GCSO ANNOUNCES THE RETIREMENT OF BLOODHOUND “BLUE”

GCSO ANNOUNCES THE RETIREMENT OF BLOODHOUND “BLUE”

On December 27, 2017 Sheriff Dennis Kelly officially announced the retirement of a respected member of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, a bloodhound affectionately known as “Blue”.

“Blue” faithfully served the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Greenwood County for eight years. “Blue” has been the Team’s lead hound since the retirement of his counterpart “Ruby” this past January. “Blue has played a vital role for the Bloodhound Tracking Team for a long time. “Blue” has assisted in the tracking of many missing persons, missing children and suspected criminals over his many years of duty. “Blue” will be missed by all of the Sheriff’s Office, but most especially by his “Tracking Team Family”.

Blue was approximately six months old when

he was acquired from the York County

Sheriff’s Office Bloodhound Tracking Team as a gift.

“Blue” has been adopted by a local farm owner

that has ties to the tracking team. The farm owner

has stepped forward to provide “Blue” with an open

safe environment where he will be able to live out

his retirement. After a long career of service to others, “Blue”

can relax and enjoy running and playing with other

dogs and farm animals.

Blue’s last major “find” was on 08/31/2017 at a Bank

Robbery in Calhoun Falls SC. Our “Tracking Team”

was requested for mutual aid. Blue tracked the suspect

from the bank through a neighborhood where Blue

located money stolen from the bank and then located

the suspect hiding in an abandoned mobile home.

The suspect was arrested and pled guilty to Armed Bank Robbery.

“Blue” has been a key member of our team for a long time, he has always been ready to go when it’s time to hunt for somebody”. “Anytime we retire a hound it is hard but when one has served as well as “Blue” it is a well-deserved retirement”. Said Sgt. Jeff Graham, Commander of the Bloodhound Tracking Team.

Sheriff Kelly and the men and women of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office are proud to wish “Blue” a very happy, well-deserved retirement.