Retired WHP K-9 Bonnie passes away

The Wyoming Highway Patrol announces with a heavy heart the passing of retired narcotic detection K-9 Bonnie. Bonnie became a Wyoming Highway Patrol K-9 in fall 2008. Bonnie was assigned as a narcotic detection K-9 in the Cheyenne area. Bonnie worked in the Cheyenne area until her retirement in January 2014. She retired due to health issues, which made it difficult for her to continue her career. 

Upon her retirement, Bonnie spent her remaining years in the Big Horn Basin area, primarily in Worland. Bonnie's former handler was reassigned to Cheyenne and Bonnie was adopted by the Dennis Toman family. Bonnie remained in the loving care of the Toman family until her passing on Nov. 27. 

Bonnie had an amazing career with Patrol. While assigned to a temporary duty in the Sundance area, Bonnie located 482 pounds of marijuana hidden in furniture in the cargo area of a Penske rental vehicle. This case started a nationwide investigation which led to several arrests in numerous other states. 

Another high point in Bonnie's career came when she assisted a Cheyenne area trooper with the search of a vehicle.  Bonnie had alerted to the vehicle indicating the odor of illegal narcotics existed within the vehicle. After an exhaustive and non-productive hand search of the vehicle, troopers redeployed Bonnie to pinpoint the illegal narcotics within the suspect vehicle. Bonnie responded getting onto her hind legs and sniffing the open tailgate of the vehicle. She alerted to the tailgate area. After troopers searched the tailgate, they discovered more than 11 pounds of the illegal drug, ecstasy. This discovery also led to numerous arrests and a nationwide investigation.  

Bonnie had numerous other criminal interdictions in her career, but these were two very significant criminal interdictions, which her handler Karl Germain reflected fondly upon.

All working dogs are important and make silent contributions to their communities on a daily basis. Bonnie was one of these very special dogs. Her selfless work helped to prevent illegal drugs entering communities all across this nation. Thank you, Bonnie for your hard work and dedication to the Patrol.  

The Patrol and Bonnie's former handler, now Capt. Karl Germain wish to thank the Toman family for the love and affection they gave to Bonnie in her final years and to the Humane Society of Worland for their generous contribution of providing for Bonnie's cremation and an urn for her remains.