Geneva police are looking for help locating Sassy, the department’s narcotics K-9.
Officer Joshua Waller, who serves as the handler for Sassy, said police believe the 3-year-old yellow labrador was taken from his home in the Devco area of Geneva early Saturday morning.
“We believe that somebody took her and that she didn’t just get out on her own,” Waller said. “We’re still trying to follow up on leads.”
Waller recalled returning home from his regular night shift around 4 or 5 a.m. on Saturday, dropping Sassy off at her kennel at his home. Later that afternoon after he woke up, he found the gate to the fence around his yard open and Sassy missing.
Waller said police primarily used Sassy for narcotics and tracking work. He said Sassy, the county’s only police K-9, was paid for through private donations from area residents after the department couldn’t afford the purchase. Next month will mark Sassy’s one-month anniversary of being with the Geneva Police Department.
“It’s very important that we find her,” Waller said. “It leaves not only the city but the county without an active narcotics and tracking K-9.”
Waller said the person who took Sassy faces a felony first-degree theft of property charge, and possibly other charges. He said a reward has been offered for information leading to her recovery.
Waller called Sassy a very friendly dog and not aggressive.
“We look at her as an employee. She has her own badge,” Waller said. “Everybody from drug dealers to little kids know who she is. She’s had enough attention. My police car that says K-9 unit was parked right there in the yard at the time.”
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Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Sassy can call the Geneva Police Department at (334) 684-2777.
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