Daxa with her handler and closest friend Kelsey Bighetty. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Retired Prince Albert police service dog passes away

Apr 28, 2023 | 3:10 PM

A special place in heaven has been reserved for a former K-9 member of the Prince Albert Police Service.

Through their Facebook page, the police service confirmed Friday, Daxa had passed away at the age of 11.

Daxa spent five years with the Prince Albert Police Service and was deployed more than 500 times, before retiring in 2018 to live with her handler and loving family.

“Daxa and her handler were an incredible team, a true pleasure to watch them serve together. Daxa spent time at our home in 2013 where she left paw prints forever with my family. Thoughts with those who say goodbye to such a loyal partner and friend. One of a kind PSD Daxa!” Chief of Police Jonathan Bergen said in a statement.

Daxa stole the show at the 2018 BOB awards. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

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During her time with the Prince Albert Police Service, Daxa won many awards including a first place finish in tracking and a life saving St. Johns award.

In 2018, Daxa was named Prince Albert’s Best Police Officer by paNOW‘s readers, making the law-enforcing pooch the first non-human to win one of the prestigious awards that recognize the city’s ‘Best Of The Best.’

“It’s awesome for Daxa to get nominated and then get the votes to win the BOB Award,” Daxa’s handler Constable Kelsey Bighetty told paNOW. “I think it’s kind of cool for a four-legged animal to win for Best Police Officer, and it shows she has a lot of fans.”

At the time of her retirement, Bighetty mentioned the day was bittersweet, but added he looked forward to having Daxa at home, enjoying retirement.

“She’s caught over 200 suspects over her time with her, so this is just our way of showing her that she is a part of the policing family, she’s a four-legged police officer,” he said. “It’s bittersweet, but I know that Daxa has done a lot and been through a lot throughout our deployments. This way she gets to enjoy life … so I’m happy about that.”

On patrol. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

Enjoying retirement. (Prince Albert Police)

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell