The Wright County Sheriff’s Office is celebrating a pair of retirements this week and last.

Captain Dan Anselment, whose final day of work after 33 years with the Sheriff’s Office was last Friday, was honored at Tuesday’s Wright County Board meeting for his exemplary service to the county. He is being joined by an eight-year employee who has also served the residents of Wright County – K9 officer Vader.

Vader is a German Shepherd who was imported from Slovakia and assigned to Deputy Josh Tester in 2013 to serve as his partner. Vader was trained in both criminal apprehension and narcotic detection and has been a valued member of the Sheriff’s Office staff.

Vader is nine years old and has worked with the Wright County Sheriff’s Office for the last eight years. He doesn’t have any health issues, but when a dog reaches his age, regardless of health, they tend to cycle out of service and retire – almost always living with the family of the deputy the dog has partnered with.

Tester has been at Vader’s side for the last eight years and, while K9 officers have a tendency to get the depiction of being aggressive, he is loved by Tester’s children, who see him as a family pet and companion.

“He gets along great with my kids,” Tester said. “He is two very different dogs. There’s a work mode to him – they’re driven to work hard and do their job. But, there is an off switch on them. When he’s at home, he is a great family dog.”

Over the past week there have a been a pair of K9 officers shot in the line of duty in Minnesota, which puts into focus the role they play in law enforcement and apprehending suspects. A bond develops between the officer and the K9 officer that transcends most relationships in their lives.

Since Tester and Vader were partnered, Tester said there is nobody that has been at his side anywhere near as much as Vader.

“When you add up the hours that we have spent together – at home and on the job – I’ve spent more time with him over the last eight years than I’ve spent with my family,” Tester said. “He’s my sidekick all day long.”

The county currently has two K9 officers – the other being Chase, a 4-year old Malinois/Shepherd mix. Vader will be replaced by 1-year old Grizz, who is also a Malinois/Shepherd cross and is currently preparing for a 12-week training course.

Not everyone understands the role that K9 officers play in law enforcement and the military, but Tester said Vader is deserving of the accolades he has been receiving from the Sheriff’s Office leading up to his retirement. Like many other officers who have stood tall in the line of duty, Vader has earned his stripes.

“Law enforcement officers are dedicated to what we do and we take a lot of pride in that,” Tester said. “Vader has served the people of Wright County well and, while it may not seem like it to some, he has been an important part of the Sheriff’s Office for the last eight years and he will be missed.”