K9 Jax, a veteran member of the Austin Police Department’s patrol team, has died after a sudden medical complication on Dec. 27, just days before his planned retirement. He passed away surrounded by his handler and family, less than two weeks before a scheduled Jan. 8, 2026 retirement date. APD said Jax was the first patrol K9 in the department’s history to die while still actively working.
In a news release, the Austin Police Department said Jax was rushed to a veterinarian on Dec. 27 after suffering a medical complication and died shortly after 7 p.m., according to FOX 7 Austin. The department credited Senior Police Officer Wagner and Jax with 227 arrests across more than nine years of service, including nine apprehensions and 11 arrests of people wanted for murder. APD also confirmed that Jax already had a retirement date on the calendar for Jan. 8, 2026.
Long Run With APD And Regional Partners
According to the City of Austin’s K-9 Unit page, Jax was an Eastern European born Belgian Malinois who began training with Senior Police Officer Wagner in August 2016 and served on APD Patrol. The city notes that Jax did not just work the streets of Austin; he also backed up APD’s SWAT team, the Violent Crimes Task Force, the Special Victims Unit and the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force. Over the years, he assisted the sheriff’s offices in Travis, Williamson and Hays counties on multiple occasions.
Department Reaction And Final Moments
In its release, the department publicly thanked Jax for his years of service and the risks he took alongside officers. "K9 Jax can rest easy knowing that his nine K9 Fur-Brothers will continue to follow the scent to find dangerous criminals and keep each and every one of us safe," APD said, as reported by FOX 7 Austin. The account notes that, despite veterinary efforts, Jax’s condition could not be reversed and that he made a final walk around the room before passing. Colleagues and APD leadership expressed gratitude for his service and acknowledged the deep bond between handlers and their canine partners.
About APD’s K-9 Unit
The Austin Police Department’s K-9 Unit, established in 1979, provides trained canine teams to assist with crime prevention, suspect location, evidence searches, and community outreach. The unit notes that patrol K-9 teams stay with their handlers on duty and live in kennels at their handlers’ homes, according to the City of Austin K-9 Unit. Within APD, Jax’s death is being mourned as handlers and staff remember a dog who spent nearly a decade working side by side with officers across the region.
