Taylor “Tay Tay” is pet by attendees of her retirement party at the Denver City and County Building on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in Denver. “Tay Tay” is retiring from the K9 Explosion Detection unit after six and a half years of service.
For nearly seven years, Denver sheriff’s K-9 Taylor has protected U.S. presidents visiting the Front Range and sniffed for bombs after horrific attacks.
But arthritis has started to hamper the 8-year-old chocolate Labrador’s back hips. Grey fur has grown on her muzzle — earning her the nickname “Sugar Lips” from her handler, Deputy Patrick Hynes. On Wednesday, Taylor reported Wednesday for her last day of work at the sheriff’s office before her retirement.
Taylor — affectionately called Tay Tay by her family — has secured buildings for visiting dignitaries like Hillary Clinton, the Dalai Lama and President Donald Trump, Hynes said. As one of the department’s longest-serving K-9s, she’s worked innumerable sports and community events, where she loved to goof around with children.
But Taylor also knew how to focus in intense situations, Hynes said. She searched for bombs in the hallways of Arapahoe High School in 2013 after a student murdered a peer and lobbed a Molotov cocktail in the school library. She secured a Thornton Walmart in 2017 after a man opened fire inside and killed three people.
“She loved her job,” Hynes said. “If it were up to her, she’d keep going.”
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Taylor worked the crowd at her retirement ceremony Wednesday. She greeted dozens of well-wishers with a boop of her nose and begged others for belly rubs. Denver Sheriff Patrick Firman presented her with a certificate and neck scratches, which she clearly enjoyed more than the piece of paper.
Taylor appeared to have a blast with so many people giving her attention. But it’s a bittersweet moment for Hynes.
Over the past six years, he spent more time with Taylor than his wife, he said. Hynes’ mornings will be different now without Taylor, his first K-9 partner. Instead of loading Taylor into his car on his way to work each morning, he’ll start working with a new dog.
Rachel Woolf, Special to the Denver Post
From left, Taylor "Tay Tay" sits next to her partner, Deputy Explosive Detection K9 Handler Patrick Hynes, during Taylor's retirement party at the Denver City and County Building on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Denver. "Tay Tay" is retiring from the K9 Explosion Detection unit after six and a half years of service.
Rachel Woolf, Special to the Denver Post
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock pets Taylor "Tay Tay" as her partner, Deputy Explosive Detection K9 Handler Patrick Hynes, laughs in the background, during Taylor's retirement party at the Denver City and County Building on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in Denver. "Tay Tay" is retiring from the K9 Explosion Detection unit after six and a half years of service.
Rachel Woolf, Special to the Denver Post
DENVER, CO - MARCH 27: Sharon Davis, of Arvada, listens during the retirement ceremony for K9 Taylor "Tay Tay" at the Denver City and County Building on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. Davis works in the same building as "Tay Tay." K9 Taylor is retiring from the K9 Explosion Detection unit after six and a half years of service. (Photo by Rachel Woolf/Special to the Denver Post)
Rachel Woolf, Special to the Denver Post
Taylor "Tay Tay" looks up as her plaque is displayed by her partner, Deputy Explosive Detection K9 Handler Patrick Hynes, during Taylor's retirement party at the Denver City and County Building on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Denver. "Tay Tay" is retiring from the K9 Explosion Detection unit after six and a half years of service.
Rachel Woolf, Special to the Denver Post
From left, Sheriff Patrick Firman pets Taylor "Tay Tay" as her partner, Deputy Explosive Detection K9 Handler Patrick Hynes, displays her new certificate during Taylor's retirement party at the Denver City and County Building on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in Denver.
Rachel Woolf, Special to the Denver Post
A cake is on display for Taylor "Tay Tay" during her retirement party at the Denver City and County Building on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in Denver. "Tay Tay" is retiring from the K9 Explosion Detection unit after six and a half years of service.
Rachel Woolf, Special to the Denver Post
Taylor "Tay Tay" sits down during her retirement party at the Denver City and County Building on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in Denver. "Tay Tay" is retiring from the K9 Explosion Detection unit after six and a half years of service.
Rachel Woolf, Special to the Denver Post
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From left, Taylor "Tay Tay" sits next to her partner, Deputy Explosive Detection K9 Handler Patrick Hynes, during Taylor's retirement party at the Denver City and County Building on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Denver. "Tay Tay" is retiring from the K9 Explosion Detection unit after six and a half years of service.
The new dog, a Belgian Malinois named Karma, is currently in training and has already moved into Hynes’ home. Taylor generally has been accepting of the new addition but there has been some tension between the two dogs, who are both alpha females, Hynes said.
“They’re cordial,” he said.
He’s not sure how Taylor will react when he goes to work without her on Thursday. When he takes Karma out instead of Taylor, his old partner just looks up at him with her big brown eyes, he said.
