JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi police department says it has demoted a police officer who surrendered his retired police K-9 to an animal shelter.

Jackson police Sgt. Roderick Holmes tells The Clarion Ledger that Officer Carl Ellis was believed to be caring for Ringo, but had actually surrendered him to a shelter.

The department said Tuesday that Ellis was “reassigned to patrol duty” once the department learned of Ringo’s abandonment.

Ringo had assisted the police department in finding drugs, search and rescue missions, and tracking. He retired in October along with a fellow police K-9 named Alpha.

The department says police Chief James Davis now has implemented a policy requiring quarterly welfare checks for both active and retired police dogs. It says additional policy is being drafted about K-9 welfare requirements.

Written by: Clarion Ledger