K-9 Ginger Passes Away At Age 11

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A retired K-9 officer who helped take more than $100,000 worth of drugs off the streets passed away Saturday morning, according to authorities. She was a partner to Sgt. Aaron Penman, the Harford County Sheriff's Office reported.

K-9 Ginger, 11, was surrounded by her family at her side, including Sgt. Penman, Captain Tracy Penman and their children.

The first K-9 officer to serve in the Harford County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Division/Harford County Narcotics Task Force, K-9 Ginger worked for the sheriff's office from 2008 to 2014.

She helped with significant narcotics seizures, officials said, including the following:

• $477,000 in cash
• 110-plus search-and-seizure warrants
• 84 pounds of marijuana worth $100,000
• 28 ounces of heroin worth $55,000
• 22 guns
• 8 oz of crack cocaine worth $27,000
• 9 oz of powder cocaine worth $25,000

K-9 Ginger was a "friend to all who worked with her," according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

"She served courageously and honorably," authorities said. "She will be missed by the entire HCSO family. Please keep the Penman family in your thoughts and prayers."

Photo of K-9 Ginger courtesy of the Harford County Sheriff's Office.