Indiana State Police K9 Maverick retires

Indiana State Police K9 Maverick has officially retired. He has faithfully served for more than eight years, working with his partner Sergeant Susan Rinschler.

Maverick, a nine-and-one-half-year-old Shepard/Malinois mix, was selected as a dual-purpose K9 for the Indianapolis District in 2016.

K9 Maverick impacted the community during demonstrations, which resulted in multiple request appearances in schools and other agencies’ community events. He was able to show off his skills while educating the community on how K9s keep communities safe.

His service was used trusted by other districts, local and federal agencies on numerous occasions. He was regularly deployed with the Indiana State Police SWAT team assisting with building searches. The U.S. Marshals Service regularly requested him to assist with the apprehension of violent felons. He assisted the United States Postal Service in seizing several hundred pounds of illegal narcotics along with hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug money. The Indianapolis Postal Inspectors made Maverick an honorary member and presented him with a patch.

K9 Maverick assisted the Fishers Police Department when officers started a drug interdiction program. He is responsible for their team’s first significant money seizure. Later in his career, K9 Maverick worked closely with members of the IMPD Violent Crime Reduction Team. He assisted in locating narcotics, and evidence and was involved in many vehicle pursuits and high-risk traffic stops.

K9 Maverick also assisted the FBI, DEA, and the ATF countless times when they had an investigation in District 52. He had deployments in all seven counties of District 52 and other counties across the state. He is responsible for over a thousand pounds of illegal narcotics, over $2 million in seized currency, hundreds of drug arrests, finding multiple suspects located after pursuits, and locating key evidence.

On one occasion, K9 Maverick assisted a suicidal individual after they requested that Maverick sit with them, which helped to encourage them to go to the hospital.

K9 Maverick has had an amazing career and has protected his partner, other officers, and citizens for many years, and even got a pat on the head from former Vice President Mike Pence.

Maverick will now enjoy his retirement as a family pet with Sergeant Rinschler.