Honoring Ajax

Retired Jerauld County Sheriff’s Office K-9 deputy, friend of the community and loyal companion “Ajax,” passed away at home due to age-related health issues last week. The Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd mix was 13 years old.

Ajax first arrived in Jerauld County in 2012 as a result of a grant from the South Dakota Drug Control Fund. The county was awarded $15,000 for a drug K-9 and related start-up costs. He was the first-ever K-9 deputy in Jerauld County history.

“At the time I took office, there was a significant drug problem in the area. Meth, prescription drugs and marijuana,” said Jerauld County Sheriff Jason Weber. “Fighting the growing drug problem in our community was a top priority and we looked to Ajax as a hugely-needed resource to help.”

At that time, it was determined that Deputy Shane Mentzer was going to be his permanent handler, and he began the process of studying and learning about the duties required in that role.

“When we first started having the discussion about getting a K-9, we discussed what we wanted. Ajax was trained as a narcotics-only K-9. One of the biggest things we wanted was a dog we could take around the community and let everyone get to know him,” Mentzer explained.

Born in the Netherlands, as an adolescent, Ajax’s journey took him to a training facility in Alabama. During his time there, Ajax, along with other law enforcement K-9s underwent training and testing to see what their capabilities were. Highway Patrol Lt. Scott Sheldon, Police Service Dog Unit Supervisor, went to Alabama and select tested dogs for agencies in South Dakota. He brought Ajax back to the prairie for Jerauld County and one other dog who went with the highway patrol.

Deep bonds made early

“Ajax showed up at our house on a Saturday morning in a pickup with a topper on it. My wife Angie, Jason (Weber) and I waited as Lt. Sheldon opened up his kennel. As soon as he jumped out, he looked at me and set a beeline for me. I thought, ‘oh my gosh, he’s going to eat me,’” Mentzer recalled. “Instead, he jumped up and had his legs around me and gave me a hug. I was still nervous, I mean he was bred to be a police service dog and I had been warned about all kinds of things.”

That first day, Mentzer said he’d bring Ajax out of his kennel, built by the Wessington Springs High School construction class, to interact then take him back to his kennel to help with the acclimation process.

“I kept bringing him out to interact and it became clear pretty quickly I had nothing to worry about,” Mentzer remembers. “They told me no obedience to begin with… our first job was to become friends. Before I knew it, he was laying on his back in my lap, letting me scratch his belly. Right from the start, he was one of a kind.”

Mentzer explained that the first several weeks of acclimation are primarily focused on forming a bond between the permanent handler and the K-9. Angie, Shane’s wife, had been given a specific role as well.

“Lt. Sheldon asked me, ‘Do you know what your role is? You are to have no contact with the dog. No touching, no feeding, nothing,’” she explained.

After the initial several weeks, Mentzer and Ajax went to Pierre to train with handlers and dogs from other agencies across the state. The duo would leave every Monday and come back Friday for six weeks.

“Training was difficult to start with, he was a little stubborn but once he and I got in the groove, Ajax responded very well to training,” said Mentzer. “If he couldn’t pick up any odor, he acted like we were out for a walk and didn’t want to continue training. His nose was so good — he acted like, if there’s nothing here, this is a waste of my time.”

On May 24, 2012 Shane and Ajax earned their certification as a verified Narcotics Detector Dog Team (PSP-2).

Upon returning, Angie, Shane, Ajax and their daughter Samantha worked on settling in at home with their new companion who also was a sheriff’s office employee.

“With K-9 narcotics training, toys were a big priority. You did not touch his toys,” Angie explained. “That first year we were very cautious. When learning to adapt to the house, there were a few bumps in the road. As winter approached, he would tear out the heat lamp in the kennel and we had to bring him in more and more. That first year was a little touch and go.”

As time went on and it was clear that Shane and Ajax’s bond ran deep, Angie and Samantha took steps to better get to know him.

“After it was clear that Shane and Ajax had established their bond, Sam and I would regularly go into his kennel to pet him,” Angie explained. “By the end of the first year, it was pretty obvious that he — and all of us were comfortable. He had such a special bond with Sam. He would give Shane and Sam little licks on their cheeks like kisses but with me, he would lean into me, that was the way he hugged me.” 

Cleaning up the community

Once certification was complete, Mentzer and Ajax along with Sheriff Weber and Deputy Mike Krueger tackled dozens of drug cases with the sheriff’s office sophisticated new tool.

“When Ajax came on, he did what his name was, he was the cleaning agent. With the help of Ajax, we were able to make big gains in cleaning things up — not only in Jerauld County but also surrounding areas,” said Jerauld County Sheriff Jason Weber. “Shane and Ajax could take a little bit of information and turn it into a full fledged investigation. I’m very proud of that. Ajax and Shane worked their tails off and cleaned our community up.”

A memorable case Mentzer points out was on an assist on January 31, 2015 when a Sanborn County Deputy stopped a semi at 12:44 a.m. for doing 88 mph in a 65.

“He instantly called me because we had some intel on this trucking company, seeing indicators that narcotics might be involved. Me and Ajax arrived on scene at 1:05 a.m. and did our normal thing,” Mentzer began. “I go up and visit with the driver, explain who I am, tell him I have a narcotics K-9 in the vehicle. I told him he could consent to a search or I go get my dog. He didn’t consent.”

Mentzer leashed up Ajax and started around the semi with a bull rack. Sniffing intently, Ajax burnt his nose on the muffler and let out a yelp.

“That concerned me, I wondered, is he going to shut down now. But no, he went right back to work and indicated by sitting and staring. He no more than burnt his nose then went right back to work, indicating by the passenger door,” Menzter said.

Mentzer explained that they found methamphetamine in the truck and confiscated the vehicle, While in storage at the county shop, law enforcement had searched the semi but didn’t find any other narcotics — that is until they let Ajax in the vehicle. He immediately found needles and syringes hidden inside the ceiling liner.

“I knew he was very capable. We trained on cars and pickups and we used to go to the fire hall and train on the big trucks. But when you can see him do his job in the middle of the night on the side of the road with a running, hot semi, it is so rewarding,” Mentzer shared. “With that case, we sold the property with funds going back to State Drug Control Fund. At the time, it was the largest cash asset in the state.”

When it comes to fighting drug-related crime, Ajax’s impact has been documented well over the years. In a True Dakotan newspaper edition dated February 4, 2015, Mentzer shared the following quote” “We got Ajax in 2012. And since that time he has been largely responsible for the more than 175 drug charges in Jerauld County.”

Making his mark on the community 

Ajax was a regular at the nursing home, schools in Wessington Springs and Woonsocket, area businesses and of course the Jerauld County Courthouse.

“Right away with Ajax, we were careful. But it quickly became clear that he really liked people. He wanted to be scratched,” laughed Mentzer. “One of the funniest memories of being out in public was when we went into the Jerauld County Treasurer’s Office to see Connie Ness. I threw his ball, thinking he’d go around the desk to get it. But no, the most direct route was over the desk. Papers flew everywhere and Connie loved every minute about it.

“Ajax had more personality than most people could ever understand,” Shane said, adding again that he was indeed, one of a kind.

Angie recounted the impact he had on people as she ran errands with him.

“When Ellen Tobin was working at the Humm-Dinger, she would ask, ’Is Ajax in the vehicle?’ Then she would promptly come out to visit him,” she said, smiling. “When we’d go to the bank drive thru, he’d come barreling to the front seat when he heard Connie Larson’s voice, knowing she’d be there smiling, treat in hand.”

Ajax’s impact was felt far and wide as shown through the outpouring of support through flowers, cards, garden memorials, calls, texts and messages since he passed away.

“I knew he was important to the community but didn’t realize how much of an impact he had on so many,” Shane shared, his voice shaking with emotion.

From K-9 deputy to forever companion

In the spring of 2015, Mentzer made the decision to leave the Jerauld County Sheriff’s Office and pursue other professional endeavors in the farm and construction industry. Because Ajax was purchased with grant money, there was red tape to work through. Mentzer committed time and personal funds and Ajax was allowed to retire from law enforcement and stay with the Mentzer family.

“He needed to be with me. It got to be where if I had to leave and couldn’t take him with, he would sit by the front door until I returned,” Mentzer said. “He absolutely loved riding in tractors. One of his favorite things was going to the farm and running around — which we quickly learned we had to have a gps collar on him. If he heard the engine start on a truck, tractor or any piece of equipment, he was ready to go and wanted in. He was happy as long as he was along.”

Angie shared that sometimes navigating the deep bond between Ajax and Shane was difficult.

“These dogs need to be highly respected. They only get one soulmate… one human soulmate,” she shared. “They can like and love other people, but there’s only one.”

Although it was obvious that Shane was Ajax’s “one,” Angie said that Ajax was the protector of her, their daughters and grandchildren.

“When anyone would come to the house, especially men, Ajax would sit next to me, touching my leg as he watched the visitor. I would play with his ear while they were here so he would know it’s ok,” she explained. “When our oldest granddaughter Kenna was born, the first time our daughter Sara brought her into the house, she was in a carrier car seat. He’d never had access to a brand new baby. He promptly stuck his nose in and sniffed her. Then he knew, she was part of the family. He would watch over her, laying close by when she was here.”

Shane said that after nearly 14 years of every day companionship with Ajax, he is struggling navigating without him.

“That’s what makes it so hard. I am so used to him always being there. Whether work, play or otherwise, now it is a big empty void.”

A full life of service, work and family 

As the couple shared memories about Ajax’s birthday celebrations, precious times he had with their grandchildren or misadventures on vacations, the door bell rang. Angie opened the front door and a delivery man handed her an orange Shutterfly box. Her face turned solemn as she walked to where Shane was seated, her arm outstretched with the box.

Their three-year-old grandson, Parker, sweetly asked, “What is that Grandma?”

“This is for grandpa,” she said softly.

Shane took a pocket knife out of his jeans and worked on the box, tears welling in his eyes.

Reaching inside, he pulled out a book titled, “Celebrate Every Day: Ajax 2010-2024.” A distinguished portrait of Ajax graces the front cover. Their daughter Sara had put it together and mailed it after learning of Ajax’s passing.

As he and Angie poured over the pages, laughter, tears and smiles ensued as they took in the pages with varying titles: “Memories, Better Together, Adventures, Happy Vibes.”

Images of Ajax with his very own cupcake and candles on his birthday, snuggled up with a baby doll and blanket with one of the granddaughters, on patrol with Shane, relaxing at a campground on a family vacation filled the pages. Over a decade’s worth of service, fun and love.

Through the tears, Shane smiled, expressing that he is grateful to have been chosen by the “one of a kind Ajax” to be his “one.”

An obituary, written by Jerauld County Sheriff’s Deputy Dawn Lake, can be found on PAGE FIVE