Carson City K9 deputy retires

Today is the last day on the beat for one of the Carson City Sheriff's Department's hairiest deputies.

Tahoe, a yellow Labrador and six-year veteran narcotics dog, will be honored in a retirement party at noon.

Wearing his badge on a collar around his neck, Tahoe has served in the patrol division with his handler of four years, Deputy Brian Humphrey. Humphrey, who will be assigned to regular patrol duties after Tahoe retires, said he will miss his partner.

"He's my buddy and he's my friend," he said Thursday. "It's going to be real sad for me to lose my partner. He's the best partner I could ask for."

In the last few years, Tahoe has found several pounds of marijuana, including a 7-pound stash in a Carson storage unit, methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia.

"He's found a ton of narcotics for us," Humphrey said.

Tahoe's nose for meth and pot has saved the department time as well.

"Tahoe is able to do in a short amount of time what would take people much longer and saved us a lot of man hours. He's helped us out a tremendous amount here at the sheriff's office."

Tahoe has lived with Humphrey, his wife and their sheltie, Cuffs, since the two were made partners.

"We've been together 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Humphrey. "He rides with me wherever I go."

They'll stay together after Tahoe's retirement.

"Hopefully he'll get to have live a good life at home because he certainly deserves it," Humphrey said. "He gets treated very well at home."

Tahoe will be honored for his service at the end-of-the-month potluck in the department briefing room at noon today.

His retirement will leave Luke -- a black Labrador -- as the lone pooch in the Carson narcotics dog program. Luke works with handler Deputy Glenn Fair.

Tahoe has been the top K9 since the retirement of Scout in April 2001. Scout, who was handled by Deputy Rebecca Zuniga-Brown, was the department's first dog and served seven years on the force.