Nevie, Lehigh County Sheriff’s first K-9, has died

Nevie, a German shepherd who was the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office first ever K-9, has died, Sheriff Joseph Hanna announced.

Trained in explosives detection and tracking, Nevie joined the sheriff’s office in June 2017. Along with her handler, Deputy Richard Garner, Nevie conducted daily sweeps of the courthouses, Government Center and incoming county mail.

Nevie retired in May 2025 at age 10 1/2, due to declining health.

During her tenue with the sheriff’s office, Nevie was called to a number of incidents involving suspicious packages. She and Garner also assisted law enforcement agencies in Lehigh and Northampton counties in more than 40 incidents, the sheriff’s office said.

She also was a part of the office’s community outreach program, conducting demonstrations at schools and community events.

In a statement, Hanna extended gratitude to Emmaus Animal Hospital and veterinarians Arthur Obernrader and Richard Grgurich for Nevie’s care.