Lewisville police dog loyal until the end

Immo and officer Shane Menz worked together for six years on the Lewisville police force.

They logged about 85,000 miles on two squad cars, and they were busy: The pair found 5,250 pounds of marijuana, 109 kilos of cocaine, 55 gallons of methamphetamine oil and 29 kilos of methamphetamine.

They also were inseparable.

The decision to put Immo down Saturday was heartbreaking, but Menz had watched his retired partner struggle to walk the past few weeks, suffering from hip pain and falling frequently.

“I could see that he had some pain,” Menz said in a weekly Lewisville police report. “It was very hard to watch from such a good dog that had served me so well.”

The narcotics detection dog put his head on Menz’s lap before he died.

In North Texas, there are an estimated 50 K9s on police forces and sheriff departments, according to statistics from Region 25 of the United States Police Canine Association.

“A canine is your living shadow,” Grapevine Senior Officer Brian Hintz said Monday. Hintz has been a canine officer and trainer for 21 years and is president of Region 25 of the United States Police Canine Association.

“He’s with you on your shift and then he goes home with you,” Hintz said. “They live to just please you.”

That was the story for Immo and Menz.

Immo was found to be a prime candidate in Germany for service as a police dog. He was brought to the United States in June 2009 and trained in Mississippi.

Menz traveled to Mississippi and trained for two weeks with Immo.

The team began in September 2009 and Immo lived with Menz’s family. Along with the drugs found, Immo was responsible for five arrests by force and 64 “give-ups.”

Immo retired in April 2015.

“I have to admit that it doesn’t seem real yet,” Menz said. “I find myself listening for that familiar woof from him that will not come.”

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Lewisville police dog loyal until the end."