As a Bakersfield Officer walked a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois down an aisle of parted officers, loud claps and cheers erupted from both sides.

The Belgian Malinois held a dog toy in its mouth and wagged its tail happily, turning its head left and right.

On January 5, 2018, 4pm, Bronx, the K-9, took his last walk down the hallway of the Bakersfield Police Department as an official working police dog.

Bronx worked with his partner, Senior Officer Chris Dalton, for 8 years starting from January 2010 with their long-term work together on the SWAT Team since 2014.

Bronx was trained in narcotics as well and trained for two and a half months before starting his official duty as a K-9.

The K-9 often accompanied his partner to schools to give demonstrations as well as for tour groups at the Bakersfield Police Department. The canine was also the longest serving K-9 in the departments history.

The veteran K-9 has worked continuously to protect.

K-9 or K9, is the abbreviation for a canine trained to help law-enforcement personale. The use of dogs for law enforcement has been instilled since the Middle Ages and their role in assisting police has grown tremendously.

K9s have worked to sniff out bombs, track down suspects, detect drugs and illegal substances, track missing persons, locate bodies, and apprehend criminals.

All in all, most K9s retire at the age of 9 or 10  years old depending on the condition of the canine and are awarded recognition before they leave their duty as a police dog.

K9s receive the same amount of respect and honor as do officers when they retire.

When K9s retire, they receive a grand ceremony to congratulate their service and tearful farewells for a brave hero has padded out of their lives.

Now, the Belgian Malinois will live life as an “unemployed” and “normal” dog with the Dalton family.

“Bronx… has been awarded with many awards throughout the years for his dedication, skills, and work,” the Bakersfield Police Department stated.

A Facebook post of Bronx entailed the message, “Help us wish Bronx well in his retirement, as he goes home today to enjoy a much more relaxed with Chris and his family.”

With a final statement, the department bid, “Thank you for being a loyal K-9 all these years Bronx!”