When one Elizabethton police officer finished his shift on Thursday, it marked the end of his law enforcement career.

After eight years with the Elizabethton Police Department, and a long list of accomplishments, K9 Kero is now officially retired. His partner, EPD Cpl. Sarah Ellison, said Kero will remain in her care but now he will spend his time doing what regular dogs do.

Kero, a Belgian Malinois, started his law enforcement career in 2009 with the Elizabethton Police Department and has been with Ellison since day one. He was almost four years old at that time.

Now, Kero has reached retirement age.

“Generally, the good workability for a K9 is eight to 10 or maybe 12 years of age,” Ellison said. “Kero will be 12 in September.”

During his tenure with the Department, Kero worked as a dual-purpose police dog — which covers both narcotics detection as well as patrol duties such as tracking, criminal apprehension, building and area searches, and evidence recovery. Ellison and Kero also took part in K9 demonstrations at local schools, for civic organizations, and at public events.

Not only did the duo serve the Elizabethton Police Department, Kero and Ellison also assisted many other law enforcement and government agencies. The pair aided agencies such as the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, Avery N.C., Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Service, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

“The utilization of K9 Kero led to the arrest and conviction of persons involved in crimes at both the state and federal level,” Elizabethton Police Chief Jason Shaw said. “His use was vital in the seizure of illegal narcotics and weapons.”

According to Shaw, Thursday also marked the end of the Elizabethton Police Department’s current K9 program, as Ellison has decided to resign from her position as the K9 officer. She will remain with the Department working in the patrol division.

“I’ve got about six years before I retire,” Ellison said. “I wanted to concentrate on the remainder of my career and whatever it may hold for me.” One of her goals, Ellison said, is to pursue a promotion within the department to the rank of Sergeant.

Kero’s retirement will be a big change for Ellison, who has spent the vast majority of her law enforcement career working as a K9 handler.

Her first K9 partnership started in 1998 while she was a deputy with the Carter County Sheriff’s Office. She worked with K9 Sgt. Kabor until he retired.

After Kabor retired, Ellison was partnered with K9 Max, and the pair worked together for about a year and a half before she left the Sheriff’s Office to accept a position with the Elizabethton Police Department.

“I had almost a year off from K9, and then I got Kero,” Ellison said.

With a K9 career that spans most of 19 years, Thursday’s retirement of Kero was a bittersweet moment for Ellison.

“He has served the community well,” Ellison said of her partner. “He was probably one of the best dogs I ever worked.”

While each of her K9 partners has been special, Ellison said there are no words to describe her feelings for Kero.