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Ceremony to honor Evo for 8 years of service with TPD K9 unit

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Tucson Police Department K9 Evo retired back in September and on Sunday a ceremony was held to give him the official send off to his retirement.

Over Evo's eight years of service he has been deployed 962 times, and helped in 350 arrests.

TPD Officer Jeff Rumsley, Evo's Handler said "A bookend to his career: early on, like his second apprehension, was a guy who was shooting at people at Lakeside Park. He found him and apprehended him for us while he's laying on his gun. His last apprehension was a home invader that was hiding next to an assault rifle and he went in there and apprehended that person so we didn't have to."

That was just the beginning and end of his career Ofc. Rumsely says there are many more examples of his heroic acts.

Together four days a week on patrol, and three days a week at home the bond between Rumsely and Evo is strong.

Ofc. Rumsely said "His last night I got all emotional and stuff, and he's transitioning to something new when it's a known commodity. Every time I needed him to do something, he did it. He made my job safer and he also entertained me."

Also honored at Sunday's ceremony was K9 Czech Shepard Cack from Marana Police Department.

Like Evo Cack was a locator and helped in a number of narcotics cases.

Ofr. Brad Barton, Cack's Handler said "A huge asset to our department over the years. He has been involved in countless narcotics investigations and was pivotal in those investigations. Without him and namely his nose, those finds - the drugs we were able to get off the streets would have never been found without his help."

Both dogs will now live out the rest of their lives in their handler's homes.