Stockton community mourns trailblazing K-9

Stockton University is mourning a pioneer who also was a very good boy.

Hemi became the four-legged half of the college's first K-9 team in 2011, when he joined then-Officer Tracy Stuart.

The chocolate Labrador followed his partner as she was promoted to sergeant and then lieutenant, even attending Stuart's graduation when she received her master's degree.

"It is truly devastating to have lost my original ride-or-die in K-9 Hemi," Stuart told Stockton's Stacey Clapp. "It's hard to imagine a world without him in it. I know the Stockton community, whom Hemi loved, mourns with me.

"I try to find solace in the countless happy memories of his campus community engagement shenanigans that made people laugh as well as his incredible service achievements," she added.

Hemi would have turned 14 on June 22, the day before Stuart's birthday.

The dates are why, Stuart said, she always felt they were destined to be partners.

They were also successful.

The team won back-to-back national titles for explosives detection at the U.S. Police Canine Association National Detector Dog Trials in 2018 and 2019.

Together they served on a regional bomb detection task force and were called to action to investigate bomb threats, dignitary visits, parades and special events deemed vulnerable to terroristic attacks.

But Hemi wasn't just good at sniffing out explosives. He also had a talent for engaging the community.

Reading comments left over his passing proved that deep connection, and touched his grieving partner.

"It's amazing the impact he had on so many," Stuart told BreakingAC. "I pray he knew how much he was loved."

The love continued into his 2020 retirement, when Hemi became Stuart's full-time pet, and the big brother to her new partner, Freya.

The golden retriever already is on her way, besting other dogs in vehicle and package searches at her first competition in 2021.

But now, she too is in mourning.

"She's 'off,'" Stuart said of Freya, who's not been her "usual sassy self" since Hemi passed.

The morning after, Freya stopped on the deck and slowly sniffed the area where Hemi suffered a seizure.

Stuart said she was able to hold him for a few moments before he died.

"I've been trying to keep her distracted so her mourning process isn't too difficult," she said of Freya. "Sometimes I wish you could explain what's going on to a dog."

While Hemi and Freya are her partners and babies, Stuart said, "I have always thought of them as our dogs, Stockton's dogs."

"These dogs leave such a large footprint on our lives, so it's difficult to accept when they're gone," she said. "I could not have asked for a better partner."