A Partner in Service Should Have the Chance to Be a Companion for Life

To: Allen County Sheriff’s Department — Fort Wayne, Indiana

We are asking the Allen County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Hershberger to reconsider the decision regarding K9 Django and allow him to retire with his longtime handler, Corporal Ben Fries, and the family he has known as his own since 2020.

Django is not just a police dog. He is an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix who has spent the last six years working side by side with Ben to protect the people of Allen County. Since moving into Ben’s family home in September 2020, Django has become more than a partner on the job. He has become a beloved member of Ben’s family, sharing a home with Ben, his wife, and their children.

After six years of dedicated service, we believe Django deserves the opportunity to spend his retirement with the people he knows, trusts, and loves.

THE DEPARTMENT’S RETIREMENT POLICY

According to the department’s retirement policy as it has been explained to us, K9s may be eligible to retire after a minimum of four years of service, with the sheriff’s approval. Decisions are handled on a case-by-case basis.

We also understand that the other two K9s in Django’s 2020 cohort (K9 Desmo, and K9 Mishka) have already retired and are living with their families. Django is older than those dogs and has spent more time working on the road.

SIX YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

Django has worked tirelessly and eagerly to protect our county. His job has required countless hours of training, long days on the road, school and community demonstrations, successfully tracked missing people, apprehended felony suspects, and located drugs and weapons in homes, vehicles, schools, fields, and neighborhoods.

On April 20, 2023, Django’s detection led to the arrest of a suspect and the discovery of substantial quantities of illegal drugs, including approximately two pounds of fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, MDMA, and other substances. Two handguns were also recovered, including one reported stolen from Saginaw, Michigan.

In March 2025, Django tracked a suspect who fled during a domestic battery investigation. He followed the trail through neighborhood streets, sidewalks, and multiple backyards before locating the suspect in a shared community area. The suspect was taken into custody peacefully and subsequently faced charges that included felony domestic battery in the presence of a minor and invasion of privacy.

These are just two examples of Django’s hundreds of deployments and apprehensions of which he achieved without a single bite. 

DJANGO DESERVES TO SPEND HIS RETIREMENT AT HOME

Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds commonly have life expectancies of approximately 10–13 years. Django is already eight; Patrol K9’s have much less life span. After spending most of his adult life training, working, and protecting others, his remaining years are precious.

The bond between a K9 and his handler is built through years of working together, depending on one another, and sharing experiences that most people will never fully understand.

Django knows Ben. He knows his home. He knows the family who welcomed him into their lives and cared for him throughout his career. Allowing him to retire with Ben would give Django the opportunity to remain in a familiar environment, surrounded by the people who have been part of his life for six years.

A REQUEST FOR COMPASSION AND FAIR CONSIDERATION

Django has served this community faithfully. He has helped locate dangerous drugs and weapons, track fleeing suspects, and assist law enforcement in protecting the public. He has spent six years doing the job he was trained to do, alongside the handler he has known since the beginning of his career.

We respectfully ask Sheriff Hershberger to reconsider the decision and allow Django to retire with Ben and his family.

Please consider Django’s age, his years of service, the department’s retirement policy, the precedent of other K9s retiring with their families, and the unique bond he shares with Ben. Most importantly, please consider the opportunity to give this hardworking dog a peaceful retirement in the home he already knows.

Django has spent years helping protect our community. Now, our community has an opportunity to speak up for him.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Please sign this petition, share Django’s story, and help bring attention to this request.

Every signature and every share helps to show how much this community cares.

Please remain respectful when contacting the sheriff’s department. Our goal is not to attack anyone. Ben and his family are at peace with their decision to walk away from law enforcement.  They are also fully prepared to take financial responsibility for Django, cover his medical needs, and assume full responsibility/liability.  They are not asking the county to pay for any of Django’s future needs.  This is to advocate for Django and ask for a compassionate outcome.

SIGN THIS PETITION. SHARE THEIR STORY. HELP BRING DJANGO HOME!