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Kissimmee commissioners approve retirement and transfer of K9 Baxter to handler
Summary
The Kissimmee City Commission declared K9 Baxter surplus and approved transferring ownership to his handler, Detective Georgie Torres, after Interim Chief Robert Ansueto outlined Baxter's electronic-search work, deployments and awards.
The Kissimmee City Commission on the last meeting of the year approved the retirement of K9 Baxter and transferred ownership of the seven-year-old electronic-search canine to his handler, Detective Georgie Torres. Interim Chief Robert Ansueto described Baxter as the department's first ESD K9 and credited the dog with locating more than 400 electronic storage devices during roughly 200 deployments and winning the Florida Department of Law Enforcement ESD K9 of the Year in 2023.
Ansueto told the commission that Baxter had spent nearly five years on the job and had been used both in investigations and to comfort children during interviews. He said the dog's career was cut short by a medical ailment and recommended declaring Baxter surplus so the department could transfer ownership to Torres. The commission moved, seconded and approved the transfer by voice vote.
Mayor and commissioners offered brief remarks of thanks to Baxter and to his handler. No further city action was required; the transfer formalizes that the retired K9 will remain with his handler for private care.
