Somerset Police Department is mourning the loss of “loyal and dedicated” Viepo, a retired K-9 unit and partner that served alongside now-retired Officer Jared Linhares.

The German shepherd, which was introduced to the department and tasked with patrol work in 2015, died of natural causes on Feb. 13 at the age of 12. 

“He was going to be 13 in May,” Linhares said. “Overall, he was very healthy.”

Viepo and his handler Linhares were first partnered when Viepo, who came from Slovakia, was 18 months old. The pair spent eight years working together on the department. Linhares said that Viepo was the first K-9 unit to join the police department in over 30 years.

Read more at heraldnews.com.