K-9 Jimi retires from duty

On the evening of Dec. 10, Greybull police K-9 Jimi suffered a severe spinal stroke while on duty.

Jimi was rushed to Best Friends Pet Hospital in Billings, Mont., where he received a CT scan and then transferred to Bridger Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Hospital in Bozeman. Once there, he underwent an MRI and was visited by a veterinary neurologist, who determined that surgery would not aid him in recovering sensation in his back legs.

On Wednesday, Jimi returned home with his handler, Officer Cat Wiekhorst. The Town of Greybull granted ownership of Jimi to Wiekhorst, who will continue to care for Jimi, now paralyzed.

Jimi joined the Greybull Police Department on Jan. 28, 2021 when he was first partnered with Wiekhorst. Together, they underwent training in Little Rock, Ark., and became a nationally certified K-9 team. After joining the National Police Canine Association, they recertified as a team annually in Jackson, Wyo.

In addition to renewing their certification, the team trained monthly for the detection of illegal narcotics and scenarios into which a police K-9 would be deployed. Jimi received certifications in the detection of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, MDMA and marijuana. In 2024, he received his certification to detect and locate fentanyl.

Jimi often attended public events to mingle with the community, including Trunk-or-Treat. Wiekhorst recounted that, on one occasion, she’d dressed Jimi as a dragon for the event.

“His happiest times were when (we) visited Greybull Elementary for the Drug Awareness and Safety presentation,” she wrote in a Facebook post shared to the Greybull Police Department’s page. “His face would always light up when he saw the children walk in. (He was) always hoping to be petted.”

During his nearly four years of service, Jimi was actively deployed on duty approximately 51 times. He played a vital role in removing approximately $37,000 worth of illegal narcotics from the community and his services were often requested by other law enforcement agencies. At one point, K-9 Jimi was the only active duty police dog in Big Horn County.

In a statement released on the matter of Jimi’s health and retirement, Chief Davis wrote, “While we are saddened to see him retire, we (are) grateful for his years of service and countless contributions he has made to the success of the department and the safety of our community. Jimi’s skills, loyalty and unwavering dedication have earned him the respect and admiration of his fellow officers and the people he served. 

“K-9 Jimi will be greatly missed by the Greybull Police Department, but we wish him a happy, well-deserved retirement. We extend our deepest gratitude to Officer Wiekhorst for the outstanding partnership with Jimi and for her dedication to K-9 duties.”