Retiring After 8 Years Of Service, Police K9 Receives Beautiful Radio Tribute

Police dogs are treasured members of every department lucky enough to have them on the force.  True partners in every way, every day they watch their handlers back and bravely serve alongside law enforcement.

When it was time for K9 Faust, a decorated German shepherd who served on the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Police Department, to retire, his handler honored him with a radio tribute.

The brave K9 Faust worked in explosives detection and patrol departments.  He won many awards over his eight years of service.  He also won second place in obedience at the National Railway Police K9 Trials and in fifth place in Explosions Detection.

His handler Senior Special Agent Bryan Schaffer loved Faust and they trusted each other with their lives.  Over the years they went on many calls together including bomb threats and making sure the citizens they were entrusted to serve were safe.

Since Faust and Special Agent Schaffer accomplished so much together, the officer wanted to celebrate their bond by giving K9 Faust a special tribute.  On the now gray muzzled Faust’s last day at the department, he jumped into Agent Schaffer’s cruiser and settled in like he always did.

Expecting the day to go like any other, his ears perked up at the sound of the radio in the police car.  However, instead of being dispatched, Faust heard the radio dispatcher say:

“Faust has just completed his last shift as an explosive detection and police service K-9 after eight years and one day, and he is now officially retired. Faust, thank you for your service,” the radio dispatcher said.

Although the K9 couldn’t understand the words, surely he felt his partner’s emotion as he shared a heartfelt message about Fault’s accomplishments and time of the force.  In Special Agent Schaffer’s own words:

“Faust, thank you for all the good you have done for the BNSF and other agencies – but mostly I thank you for getting us both home safe after every shift.”

Although Faust’s retirement was bittersweet for Schaffer, it was not the end of their story.  The officer adopted the K9 so they will live out his retirement days together.  They go hiking, on road trips, and K9 Faust is enjoying his well deserved retirement.

We wish them both nothing but the best and thank them for their service.  Please share their story with your family and friends.