Yuba City Police K9 Rip officially retired this week after six years of service with the Yuba City Police Department’s K-9 program. The 7-year-old Belgian Malinois was honored by the Yuba City City Council on Tuesday for his dedicated service to the community from 2021 to 2026.
Rip’s handler, Officer Allec Mitchell, will be taking Rip home to live as a family pet. Officer Mitchell expressed his emotions during the council meeting, stating, "This becomes part of your family for a long time." He thanked everyone who supported them throughout their tenure, acknowledging the necessity of a strong support system at home and backing from his colleagues.
Mayor Marc Boomgaarden read a proclamation detailing Rip’s extensive accomplishments. K9 Rip, alongside Officer Mitchell, was deployed nearly 300 times, resulting in 13 apprehensions and 136 surrenders. He also conducted 59 article searches, leading to the recovery of 29 items of evidence. In addition to these duties, Rip served on guns and ammo detail and as one of the department’s SWAT K9s during high-risk operations.
The Yuba-Sutter regional SWAT team is a collaborative effort involving the Yuba City Police Department and the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office. Rip and Officer Mitchell completed SWAT K9 Interacting During Deployment (SKIDDS) school together, a required training for SWAT team members.
Throughout their career, Rip and Mitchell completed nearly 1,000 hours of continued training, demonstrating their commitment and teamwork. Rip distinguished himself in police canine competitions, placing in K9 trials in 2024, 2025, and 2026. He earned recognition as an overall place finisher in the Western States Police K9 Association Trial Circuit in 2025 and was named the 2025 Yuba City Police Department K9 of the Year.
Council members also shared their appreciation for K9 Rip’s service. Vice-Mayor Michael Pasquale noted the importance of K9 officers, recalling past efforts to eliminate such roles at the state level. He commended the officers for keeping the community safe, adding a lighthearted joke about Rip's focus on his microphone. Council member Toni Cole reflected on the bravery and intelligence animals display when most needed. Council member Dave Shaw praised Officer Mitchell and Rip for their work in keeping the streets safe, suggesting that the department could use more K9s. Council member Wade Kirchner concluded on a positive note, mentioning the possibility of a new dog park for the city.
Officer Mitchell described being a K9 handler as a dream assignment since he started with the police department. He acknowledged that while he will miss the work, Rip has earned his retirement. Mayor Boomgaarden concluded the honor by wishing Rip a long, healthy, and well-deserved retirement with his handler and family. Rip is now expected to enjoy chasing sticks, balls, and squirrels in his well-earned retirement.