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Died – 8/13/18
Handler – Sgt. Darrell Spraggins
‘He was like my son:’ WPD mourns loss of retired K9
The Wetumpka Police Department announced the death of retired K9 Rex on Aug. 13. According to the WPD, Rex, a German Shepherd, had been battling multiple medical conditions before he died. Rex was born on Dec. 14, 2004 in Slovakia. After he arrived in the United States, he was trained on detection, tracking and pursuit in Jackson, Mississippi by Randy Hare of the Alpha K-9 Training Center. Rex joined the Wetumpka Police Department in November 2007, and was assigned WPD Sgt. Darrell Spraggins as his handler. Spraggins said being assigned Rex was an honor, and referred to him as his best friend. “He was definitely more than just a partner to me. He taught me what it was to honor, protect, serve and love,” Spraggins said Monday. “It was like I lost a child yesterday.”During his eight-year career, the press release stated that Rex assisted in making “hundreds” of narcotics-related arrests and helped the WPD and other law enforcement agencies track and apprehend suspects. Through his work tracking fugitives, Rex received a Letter of Commendation from the U.S. Marshall’s Task Force and was recognized by the Montgomery Probation and Parole Office.“Without a doubt, if we were on a search for drugs and Rex was in there, there was no doubt that there were drugs based on his demeanor,” Spraggins said.Spraggins recalled one occasion when Rex tracked down a suspect who had assaulted a Dadeville police officer, and another when he helped locate a man who had fallen unresponsive after suffering a medical emergency.Rex also frequented events at schools, churches, animal rescue centers and humane shelters. Every year, Rex and Spraggins would demonstrate different training simulations to show how the WPD operates its K9 unit. “The positive and lasting impact that Rex made while serving the city of Wetumpka over his eight years of service before retiring in 2015 will never be forgotten,” read a press release from the WPD. Rex officially retired on Oct. 29, 2015, and Spraggins was allowed to adopt him as a family pet. While his transition to retirement posed some challenges at first, Spraggins said he was able to adjust to being a full-time member of the family. Spraggins said WPD Chief Greg Benton, assistant Chief Ed Reeves and Chaplain John Gallups were present with him and his wife when Rex was put down. He thanked them for their support. “There were a lot of tears and a lot of respect,” Spraggins said.Spraggins also thanked the city of Wetumpka and the WPD for trusting him to work alongside Rex and allowing him to adopt Rex once he retired. “He was like my son. He was with me 24/7,” Spraggins said. The WPD asked the community to keep Spraggins, his family and the officers who knew Rex in their thoughts and prayers at this time.“The bond between a human and an animal has been described innumerable times as ‘they are like family.’ The bond between a police officer and their K9 partner runs even more deeply,” the press release read. “It is with great sadness that Sgt. Spraggins, his family members and members of the Wetumpka Police Department must now say farewell to a ‘fellow officer’ who served this community selflessly and passionately.”
