03/10/2026
Axin will be enjoying retirement life now.
Today we honor and celebrate the retirement of K9 Axin, a loyal partner, protector, and valued member of our Sheriff’s Office family.
For five years, Axin faithfully served our community, trained in apprehension, narcotics detection, and tracking. During his career, he was assigned to the Emergency Response Team and worked with the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF), assisting in numerous apprehensions and narcotics seizures, leaving a lasting impact on this agency and the citizens we serve.
Pictured here with his handler, Sergeant Smusz, and Sheriff Ward, Axin represents the dedication, courage, and teamwork that define our K9 program. The bond between Axin and Sgt. Smusz is built on trust, commitment, and countless hours of training and service together.
As Axin’s watch comes to a close, we’re grateful that he can retire and remain with his handler, Sgt. Smusz, and his family, the very people he has worked alongside and protected for the past five years. Now, he’ll trade callouts for quiet time at home, enjoying the love, comfort, and companionship of the family he’s always been a part of. There is no better ending to a K9’s career than staying with the partner who stood beside him every step of the way.
Please join us in celebrating K9 Axin and thank him for five years of dedicated service to our community. We wish him a happy and well-deserved retirement as he begins this new leash on life.
