Retired K-9 Ajax, Jerauld County’s first K-9 deputy, passed away at the residence in Wessington Spring he shared with his former law enforcement handler and best friend on Monday, July 8, 2024, at the wise dog age of 13 years.
Ajax joined the Jerauld County Sheriff’s Office in 2012, purchased when he was approximately 18 months old, with funds from a grant from the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office. Then Jerauld County Deputy Sheriff, Shane Mentzer, was assigned as his handler and caretaker. He moved in with Mentzer when he arrived and this was the beginning of many adventures and their lifelong partnership. They were together from that moment on, and even though he was always excited to see, greet and play with the other members of the sheriff’s office every opportunity he had, he was totally devoted to Mentzer.
Ajax and Mentzer completed and certified South Dakota’s K-9 Detection shortly after his arrival. After completing their training as a team, they went to work. Ajax was instrumental in numerous drug arrests in Jerauld County and its communities, and surrounding counties when requested, searching buildings and vehicles alike, resulting in arrests, convictions and drug seizures and asset forfeitures.
Ajax was well known in the community and a common visitor of the Wessington Springs Schools, as well as other groups and events. He and Mentzer would frequently visit the schools to visit staff and students and do frequent “sniffs,” making sure that the schools were remaining a safe, drug free area. As a team, he and Mentzer went out and met the public as much as possible, to give their communities the opportunity to meet Ajax and better understand his role with the sheriff’s office. Ajax was very social and loved meeting and greeting members of the community he served, and had an uncanny ability to be able to tell the difference between a “social introduction” and a “professional introduction” when dealing with people.
Ajax had many hobbies, including chasing rabbits, jumping low fences, digging, burying things, chewing pickup seats and dashes or any other available item when he felt so inclined, promoting Mentzer’s cardio workouts by briefly running out of his sight or charismatically walking him on the leash, licking available faces when in the mood, and sometimes just laying and watching people or events unfold with a sense of complete judgment. He had a personality and a way of communicating that was strictly his own, and each person in his life was given their own “special thing,” from high pitched barks and turning in circles to greet, to resting his forehead against the person’s forehead, each person had their own “I love you.”
In the spring of 2015, Mentzer made the decision to leave Jerauld County Sheriff’s Office and pursue other professional endeavors. As Ajax was purchased with grant money, there was red tape to work through, but Mentzer committed the time and personal funds to his friend, and Ajax was allowed to retire from law enforcement and stay with him. Ajax enjoyed his new role, being the navigator in many work commutes, daily errands and vacations, taking Mentzer on frequent walks, encouragement for new backyard landscaping and home renovations and sharing in Mentzer grandparent time. The roles played in the community changed, as he was now a “retiree,” but his relationship and constant companionship with Mentzer never did, and it was difficult to ever find one without the other. Ajax recently experienced some age-related health issues and Mentzer was at Ajax’s side at their residence when he crossed the rainbow bridge.
