K-9 Controversy: Former Vicksburg Police Officer denied ability to resign with his trained K-9 [Video]

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – When an officer resigns, should they be able to keep the K-9 they’ve trained with? That’s the question leaders at the Vicksburg Police Department are faced with.

“In the best interest of Nadia, I think her continuing to work here at the Vicksburg Police Department would be a better fit for her,” Vicksburg Police Chief Penny Jones said.

According to the Vicksburg Daily News, Investigator Matt Barnes resigned from the department — hoping he would be able to take the K-9 who he cared for, Nadia, home.

“On April 4, the officer wrote a letter requesting that his canine be resigned so that he could take his canine home. On April 5, I actually responded to that letter advising that I would not be allowing him to take the canine. The canine is still able to work,” Chief Jones explained.

Typically, K-9 officers like Nadia stay with a department until they …