03/14/2026
The Loss of a Partner – Remembering K-9 Jago
Tonight, joined by my wife, Laci Grube—Jago’s mom—we said goodbye to my partner, K9 Jago
He was more than a dog. For the last nine years, he was my partner. Every day on patrol, he had my back, and on the worst night of my life, he was right there beside me. I have no doubt there were several situations where he saved my life.
Jago was with me through the darkest days and the best days. He was a companion, a protector, and a loyal friend. He was the same for my wife and kids, and he never once disappointed me.
Jago was not your ordinary dog. He appeared on the television shows America’s Top Dog and Live PD, entertained celebrities and children, and was always a hit in local schools. He was featured in K-9 Cop Magazine, Working Dog Magazine, and several other publications across the country. On America's Top Dog, he made me look good on a day when I had the
worst performance of my life; he still showed up. We never asked to do that show, we were told we were doing it, and as he did so many times, he bailed me out.
I still remember a week before America’s Top Dog when I was given the course description. I panicked because we had never done agility. I called Paula Lomax-Brown and Misty Newkirk Young, and they dropped everything they were doing to help me… Jago got the biggest compliment that day from Paula, she said he is so teachable and just wants to please. How
true that was.
More importantly, he helped build lifelong friendships all over the United States by bringing people together. Jago traveled coast to coast by airplane, helicopter, and car. Over his career, he had more than 600 real-world deployments, helping place over 50 people in
jail.
Near the end of his career, I deployed him during a burglary in a building. With the help of Dan Doty, Jago captured four people that day. What a way to go out. But the moment that meant the most to me was when he helped me locate a lost child on the Knobstone Trail.
He was always ready to work. When he officially retired in 2021, I worried that home life might not suit him. But he excelled at being a retired house dog and loved getting cuddles from his brother and his mom.
Jago lived inside during his entire career and truly became part of our family. He was an absolute pleasure to have as a partner, and I could not have asked for a better dog.
Jago was also mischievous and far too smart for his own good. He could open and unlock nearly every door in our house. Over the years, he ate an entire tube of plumber’s putty, about 100 Nerf darts, and even part of a wall in a kennel. Any one of those things probably should have taken him out, but he was resilient.
Unfortunately, not every battle can be won. Recently, he began fighting hip dysplasia, gum issues and skin tumors. Recently, he would not eat all of his food and stopped getting up to greet us at the door. At just under 12 years old, Dr. Harold R Gough and I decided it was in his best interest to let him go peacefully. Dr. Gough provided care to Jago free of charge for his entire life, and I will never be able to thank him enough for his kindness.
My journey into K-9 was unlike that of most officers. When I was told I could become a handler, I was also told there was no funding available from the Sheriff. I was encouraged to work with the team leader and see if we could find options for a dog.
Luckily for me, the team leader was resourceful. After attending some training with the team, we found Jago in Tennessee.
Jago’s path to me was just as wild as the rest of his life. He was originally bred to be a working dog by Von Fieldcrest Shepherds in Wichita, Kansas. When the owner, Tom Brown, experienced serious health issues, Jago was sent to Kat Rollins and Scott Rio Odie Greene in Tennessee. Through a series of unfortunate events—and maybe just perfect timing—Jago was donated to Laci and me for a $500 donation to Greenpets Foster Network.
I will forever be grateful to Tom, Kat, and Scott. Over the years, they poured into me countless times, always willing to answer questions and help me better understand Jago.
My trainer, Ron Knox, and I put in a tremendous amount of work, along with Cliff Lindsey, Dan Doty, Brad Lienhart, Jeff Johson, Levi, Alan Keating, Joe Gerth, and others, to get Jago and me off the ground as a team. I will always, and I mean always, be thankful for that group. There were plenty of obstacles along the way. We weren’t perfect, and our story wasn’t perfect, but he was my partner.
I still remember the first time Dan Doty and I attempted a K-9 sniff of a vehicle during a traffic stop. Jago nearly hid under the car because he had never experienced a real street situation like that before. We worked through it, and he grew from it.
There are far too many people to thank who helped Jago and me along the way. Over the years, we had several trainers assist us—some great, some not so great—but all of them played a role. Jago was certified through NAPWDA and IPWDA, and he was trained by
master trainers from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Jeffersonville Police Department, and the Indiana State Police
No post or story could truly capture what Jago meant to me. The impact he had on my life was profound. He was there for me at times when I didn’t think I deserved a friend, and I am certainly not worthy of the love he gave me.
But I will keep him alive in my memory. I know we did it right. We made an impact.I wouldn’t change a single moment. I would relive every second of it again.
He was the most important part of my law enforcement career, and I will never be able to
top the memories we made, the lives we impacted, and the people we touched.
I have never felt a pain quite like this.
Rest easy, buddy.
I miss you.
I love you
