Boone County Sheriff’s Department K-9 dies during training exercise

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 died Wednesday night during a training exercise.

Baron, an 8 1/2-year-old German shepherd, unexpectedly collapsed while training at the department’s K-9 training facility north of Columbia.

“They were rushed to University of Missouri Veterinary Hospital where they were unable to revive him,” Lt. Philip Smith of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department said. “We don’t know if it was a congenital issue or if he experienced some other type of health issue.”

“He was an exceptional police dog. The rare combination of the extreme drive, athletic ability and personality,” Smith said.

Audrain County Sheriff’s Department K-9 handler Derek Chism worked with Baron on several occasions.

“He knew when it was time to work. He put his work face on and he would do his job and he would do it well. Whenever it was downtime and it was playtime, he was just a big lovable dog,” Chism said.

The Sheriff’s Department said Baron had worked with his handler, Deputy Chris Smith, since 2012 and “served bravely and professionally.”

“During his successful career, Baron assisted with numerous arrests involving illegal drugs as well as the capture of fleeing crime suspects,” Boone County Detective Tom O’Sullivan said.

“He was a phenomenal dog. He knew what he was doing and he did it well,” Chism said.

Baron was funded by donations from the Columbia Cosmopolitan Club and other local donors.

Chism said a German shepherd can cost anywhere from $7,000 to 8,000, not including the cost of training to be a K-9 dog.

“I know it’s not cheap,” Chism said.

Howard Shucart is a certified master dog trainer and has been training dogs for nearly 40 years.

“It can range anywhere between $15,000 and $30,000 on a complete full range of services on a dog,” Shucart said.

Chism also said 8 1/2 years old is young for a K-9 to die. Usually, he said K-9’s will retire when they are between 8 and 10 years old, but not die.

“You typically can anticipate about a five-to seven-year working window for your typical K-9,” Shucart said.

Smith and Chism were both unaware of any health issues Baron may have had, and Chism said he just saw Baron “last week and he was perfectly fine and just his happy go-lucky self.”

The Audrain County Sheriff’s Office offered condolences to the members of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday night following the death of Baron.

The Sheriff’s Office wrote, “Deputy Smith and Baron had been partners for several years, and on more than one occasion the pair came to Audrain County to assist deputies when needed. Deputy Smith is also a certified trainer and conducted the training certification program for Audrain County Sheriff’s Office K9 Chal. We salute Baron for his dedicated service.”

“A year or two ago, we had a vehicle pursuit that ended here in Audrain County and we called for the assistance of a K-9 because the driver of the vehicle fled on foot. Within a matter of minutes, Baron tracked him down and located him and we got the guy taken into custody,” Chism said.

“That bond that you get with that animal is like no other. It’s just amazing and, what Chris is going through, I went through it last year in August.” Smith said.