Key West police dog dies after 'medical emergency.'

Police officers mourn the unexpected loss of 'Jigsaw' the police dog. He was 7.

Jigsaw, a Key West Police K-9 who arrived in 2020 as a 2-year-old imported German Shepherd, died after a “medical emergency,” the police department announced on Friday.

The K-9 was 7 years old. He was not harmed in the line of duty, police spokeswoman Alyson Crean told me Friday.

Jigsaw’s handlers were Key West Officers Tommy Anglin and Anna Anglin.

“The Key West Police Department is saddened by the unexpected loss of K9 Officer Jigsaw due to a medical emergency,” KWPD said in a Facebook post. “Our deepest condolences to colleagues, friends, and family.”

Jigsaw was born in Slovakia on Dec. 17, 2017.

Key West Police K-9 Jigsaw spent nearly five years on the city's police department. His handlers were Officers Tommy and Anna Anglin. He was a gift to KWPD from Becca and Tom Ahrensfeld, of Key West, in October 2020. Photos by Key West Police Department

He was named for the symbol for autism awareness: a puzzle piece, which appear on Key West police vehicles used by school resource officers.

In November 2020, Key West police announced the K-9’s arrival, thanking Tom and Becca Ahrensfeld, of Key West, for donating the dog.

“To be able to give the Key West Police Department such a talented, beautiful and sweet animal to help them in their law enforcement efforts means the world to them,” police said the Ahrensfelds wrote in a note to Police Chief Sean Brandenburg.

Jigsaw was imported to Florida through Canine Extreme, a Morriston kennel and breeding and training center that specializes in German Shepherds.

Within three years on the job with KWPD, Jigsaw had helped apprehend 30 felons, find large amounts of illegal drugs and seize more than $80,000, according to police.

Key West Police K-9 Jigsaw, an imported German Shephered was born in Slovakia and arrived in Key West in October 2020.

The German Shepherd also made the PR rounds at community events, appearing at local schools, Rotary meetings and the College of the Florida Keys law enforcement academy for training demonstrations.

K-9 Jigsaw trains with KWPD, with Police Chief Sean Brandenburg taking the bite. KWPD PHOTO

Jigsaw lived with his family’s coonhound-beagle mix, Beau, and Piper the cat.

He loved squeaky toys, playing tug-of war, ice cubes and cheese, belly rubs and cuddles.

“Jigsaw loves the job and loves to play!” police said in a June 2023 Facebook post.

Key West K-9 Jigsaw on the job for the police department. KWPD PHOTO

Over his tenure as a KWPD K-9, Jigsaw worked with Officer Anglin searching for narcotics during traffic stops, posing for press release photos along with drugs and cash on the table.

Jigsaw took part in searching for suspects accused of violence, too. In June 2023, Jigsaw helped take into custody a 24-year-old man police said had stabbed a man who was walking his dog in Old Town.

In May, Jigsaw was part of the KWPD effort to track down another man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend and her coworker at a Key West contractor’s office.