MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On Wednesday, the Emergency Services Unit at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office gathered to say goodbye to K9 Officer Kix.

WREG was told Kix will be turning nine at the end of the summer and his partner said it was time for him to retire.

“After many years of continuous service to SCOC, I have decided it is time to retire Kix while he is at the top of his game,” said Vicki Rowe.  “He will be nine years old this summer and while he is in excellent condition and training like the pro he has always been, is aging.”

Sheriff Bill Oldham presented the vet with a certificate and a plaque acknowledging his accomplishments during a ceremony held Wednesday afternoon.

During his career, Kix helped officers in the search for Holly Bobo and represented the Sheriff’s Office at the Saudi Arabian Embassy.

He even was credited as “being the break that we needed in the case” of Heather Palumbo-Jones.

He will spend his retirement playing catch instead of catching criminals.