‘Unlikely’ Police K9 Retires After Productive Drug-Fighting Career

The Hawai‘i Police Department announced the retirement of longtime narcotics canine Rory, who retired Friday, Aug. 5. During his seven years of service, this unlikely looking police dog helped take 60 pounds of drugs off the streets of Hawai‘i Island and recovered more than half a million dollars.

The department acquired Rory in 2015 when he was 3 years old from a California program that raises and trains narcotics canines. Since then, the energetic floppy-eared springer spaniel has worked as a narcotics canine for the Area II (West Hawai‘i) Vice Section.

“To an uneducated eye, Rory does not look like your typical narcotics police canine,” said Area II Vice Lieutenant Edwin Buyten. “He was one of our secret weapons.”

“Let me tell you, this cute and cuddly ball of energy possesses one of the highest work drives of any narcotic canine I have ever had the pleasure to work with,” added Buyten.

Area II K9 Supervisor and Vice Detective Chad Taniyama echoed the sentiment, saying “Rory is the epitome of don’t judge a book by its cover.” Taniyama described a situation during Rory’s most recent annual K9 certification in which someone mistook the police dog for a personal pet.

“By the end of the day that same person was singing Rory’s praises and asking where could he get a K9 like Rory,” said Taniyama.

Taniyama noted that Rory has had an impressive career with Hawai‘i Police Department. During Rory’s tenure he was instrumental in the recovery of:

35 pounds of methamphetamine
2 pounds of heroin
3 pounds of cocaine
20 pounds of marijuana
more than $500,000 U.S. currency

Now 10 years old, Rory still has a lot of spunk, says Buyten, but age and health were considerations in his retirement.

“We want him to have a good quality of life in his retirement,” said Buyten.

Rory will enjoy his retirement living with the family of Officer Stephen Kishimoto Jr., who was Rory’s most recent handler.