Phoenix Police K-9 Moxie is retiring after five years with the department. She worked on narcotics and human-remains detection alongside Detective Elizabeth Poole.
The retirement was announced by Mayor Kate Gallego
, who thanked Moxie and Detective Poole for their service to the city. Gallego's post described Moxie's work in narcotics and human-remains detection.
A Partnership Built On Detection Work
Moxie's assignment covered both narcotics work and searches for human remains, according to Gallego's announcement.
Moxie isn't the only Phoenix K-9 in recent memory to close out a career built on those same specialties. K-9 Raven, who worked with Detective Travis Myers, spent about a decade helping detectives find narcotics and human remains before retiring after being diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Police said Raven's work helped remove dangerous drugs from the streets and assisted in some of the department's most difficult investigations, as reported by ABC15.
What Happened To Raven After Retirement
When Raven's working days ended, the Phoenix City Council approved the sale of Raven to her longtime handler, Detective Travis Myers, for $1 so she could live out her retirement with him, as noted by ABC15. In Moxie's case, Gallego's announcement said the council voted to let her retire with Poole.
What Rules Govern Retired K-9s?
Phoenix’s proposed canine policy may address retirement procedures, but the city notice does not spell out a general process for retired dogs to stay with their handlers. The City of Phoenix said in an April 16, 2026 notice that the proposal would include procedures for handler selections and canine retirements, without specifying how retired dogs could be transferred to handlers; the city’s notice.
The announcements cited here do not provide further details about Moxie's next steps beyond her retirement with Poole and her five years of service.
