VINTON, IA — Vinton’s first police K nine, Gino, has died after a brief illness, closing a chapter on a dog that helped shape the department’s modern K nine work. The Vinton Police Department said Gino was laid to rest this week after serving from 2016 until his retirement in 2026.
Police described him as more than a working dog. Over nearly a decade, Gino became a familiar part of the department’s public presence and a symbol of the program he helped build from the ground up. Officials said his death leaves behind a strong legacy of service to the community.
A first for the Vinton Police Department
Gino held a special place in department history because he was Vinton police’s first K nine officer. That role made him the starting point for a program that would go on to become part of the department’s daily operations and public safety efforts.
According to the department, Gino served on the force for 10 years before retiring earlier in 2026. During that time, he became known for the qualities police said defined his work: strong instincts, loyalty and a steady work ethic that set expectations for the K nine team that followed.
Police did not release details about his illness, but they said his death came after a short period of declining health. His retirement earlier in the year meant the department had already marked the end of his active service before his passing.
Two arrests and fifty five narcotics detections marked his service
Throughout his career, Gino assisted in the detention of two suspects, according to the police department. He also recorded 55 narcotics detections, a number that reflects the scope of his work in helping officers identify illegal drugs during calls and investigations.
Those figures offer a snapshot of a dog whose job went far beyond appearances at community events. Police K nine officers are often used to help locate suspects, support searches and assist with drug enforcement, and Gino was credited with making repeated contributions in that role.
The department said his actions helped set a standard for what the Vinton program could be. In its statement, police emphasized that his performance and presence had lasting value for both officers and the broader community.
Captain Ben Parmater worked beside Gino for years
Gino spent his career alongside Captain Ben Parmater, who served as his handler, partner and caregiver. That relationship was central to the dog’s work, since a police K nine depends heavily on close coordination with the officer assigned to him.
The department also recognized the Parmater family for supporting Gino both on duty and at home. That kind of support is often essential for a police dog, especially one that remains connected to the same handler through training, work and retirement.
By naming Parmater and his family in its tribute, the department highlighted that Gino’s service was not just an individual accomplishment. It was also a team effort that extended beyond shifts and patrols into everyday care.
A dog remembered for goodwill and community connection
Police said Gino was a beloved part of the department and someone who helped build goodwill with residents. His role put him in contact with the public in ways that often softened the image of law enforcement and gave people a more personal connection to the department.
The Vinton Police Department said he touched lives across the community, reflecting the way police dogs can become local figures in their own right. Even after retirement, Gino remained tied to the identity of the department that first brought him onto the force.
The tribute framed his service as part law enforcement work and part community relationship. In police’s telling, he helped strengthen trust, familiarity and a sense of pride around the department’s K nine program.
The department extends condolences after his death
In announcing Gino’s death, the department offered condolences to Captain Parmater, his family and others who are mourning the dog. That message underscored how deeply Gino’s presence was felt inside the department and beyond it.
His death closes the story of a police dog whose career began with a milestone for Vinton and ended after retirement, but whose impact remains visible in the department’s memories and records. Police said his legacy will continue through the standards he helped create for the K nine program.
For Vinton police, Gino was not only a service animal but also a long-running companion in the department’s work. Officials said his memory will endure as part of the department’s history and the community’s connection to it.
How Gino’s retirement and death mark the end of an era
Gino’s retirement earlier in 2026 had already marked the end of his active policing years, but his death now brings a final close to his time with the department. For many agencies, a first K nine often becomes a benchmark for everything that follows.
That appears to be true in Vinton, where police said his instincts and record helped define the department’s program. Even after stepping away from duty, Gino remained part of the department’s story because of the legacy he left behind.
The department’s statement suggests that his memory will continue to carry meaning for officers and residents alike. His years of service, his work with Parmater and the recognition he received after death all point to a dog remembered as both a police partner and a community fixture.
