JENNING CO. – A police dog purchased for Indiana conservation officers has made a significant breakthrough in a case by locating a hidden firearm used in a crime. Jaycie, a flat-coated retriever, was instrumental in finding the weapon after it had been concealed outside following a crime more than five days prior and after heavy rainfall on Sunday.
According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Jaycie was purchased through the collaborative efforts of the Jackson and Jennings County prosecutor’s offices and the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department. The canine completed K9 school in May under the guidance of her handler, Officer Zack Walker. Since then, Jaycie has completed nearly 200 training sessions and deployments across a dozen counties. Her work has included tracking felons and missing persons, recovering evidence, and assisting in wildlife detection.
On Monday, Jaycie’s keen sense of smell led her to the firearm, which had previously eluded other attempts to locate it. The discovery came after the sheriff’s department had struggled to find the gun despite multiple efforts.
Sheriff deputies have praised Jaycie and her handler for their dedication and success in solving the case. The sheriff highlighted how the canine unit plays a critical role in keeping the community safe and ensuring evidence of serious crimes is found. Jaycie’s ability to recover hidden proof is seen as a testament to the invaluable role police dogs play in law enforcement.
