Sheriff's Corporal, Faithful K-9 Chris Hang Up Their Flak Jackets

PASCO COUNTY, FL — During their time as partners, Cpl. Joe Liddick and his K-9 partner, Chris, tracked down 765 people accused of crimes, reunited missing elderly residents and children with their grateful families and responded to reports of bombs throughout Tampa Bay where Chris was tasked with the dangerous duty of sniffing out explosive devices.

Now the two partners at the Pasco County Sheriff's Office are hanging up their flak jackets.

On Monday, Liddick and his faithful companion bid farewell to the sheriff's office to pursue more leisurely lives as retired law enforcement officers.

Liddick joined the sheriff's office in 1996, serving as a member of the sheriff's K-9 unit for 21 years with four-legged partners Nik, Ace and, finally, Chris.

Chris and Liddick were partnered in February 2016, a German shepherd born in Germany on Nov. 16, 2015.

As members of the Tampa Bay Regional Bomb Squad, Liddick and Chris, a certified explosives detection dog, were called on hundreds of times to check out bomb threats as well as inspect high-profile events like the Gasparilla Parade, sporting events, festivals, fairs and other major venues for explosives.