Sheriff’s Office mourns the passing of K-9 officer Justus
Warwick. The German shepherd died of medical complications at the age of 10.
Warwick /
| 13 Feb 2024 | 01:40
Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta on February 9 announced the passing of one of its own: K-9 officer Justus, a 10-year-old German shepherd who served alongside his handler, 1st Sergeant Jeremy Yela, for over nine years.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Justus passed away due to unspecified medical complications.
In tribute to his service, the Sheriff’s Office provided some insight into Justus’ life. He was born in the Czech Republic, and started his career with Yela at just 15 months. Together, they endured 24 weeks of training in evidence and article recovery, tracking, building searches, and criminal apprehension. He was also trained as a narcotics detector.
Justus spent his career tracking down suspects, finding lost individuals, and sniffing out narcotics. According to the Shariff’s Office, during one deployment, Justus located 10 kilos of cocaine worth $10 million. He also reportedly enjoyed interacting with kids at K-9 demos and had just gone with Yela to the “AKC Meet The Breeds” event at the Javitz Center.
“When not working, Justus went home with his handler and his family, Jessie, Jillian, and Joanna. Justus will be missed by all who knew him and all who met him,” the Sheriff's Office said in its announcement.