K9 Axel, partner of Ofc. Timothy Camerl, was put to sleep on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

West Hartford Police Facebook photo

By Ronni Newton

Saturday was the “End of Watch” for West Hartford Police Department K9 Onyx, as the 6-year-old German Shepherd, who was battling lymphoma, received his final goodbyes from family, friends, and members of the West Hartford Police Department (and many other police departments from around the state) as part of a poignant ceremony held Saturday morning at Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center in Middletown.

K9 Onyx had been the loyal partner of Ofc. Timothy Camerl since 2021.

Ofc. Timothy Camerl and K9 Onyx. West Hartford Police Facebook page

In 2024, Camerl was honored by the West Hartford Exchange Club as “Police Officer of the Year,” nominated for the award by his peers in part because of the K9 team’s successes in apprehending suspects and locating narcotics and illegal firearms. “I could not fathom a stronger bond between having a partner like our dogs by our side,” Camerl said at the award ceremony.

Camerl, a member of the SWAT team, was chosen as a K9 handler in 2021 following an extensive process that included interviews, agility tests, and an oral board exam. He was paired with the then-1-year-old German Shepherd, who also received extensive training.

Memorial to K9 Onyx outside West Hartford Police Department, 103 Raymond Road. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

K9 Onyx was certified in patrol work as well as narcotics detection, and was a SWAT-integrated K9 who had “participated in numerous SWAT callouts throughout his short career,” West Hartford Police said in a Facebook post on Saturday announcing the dog’s passing. “Between conducting narcotic sniffs on patrol and working directly with the United States Postal Service Inspection Service, Onyx has identified and located several kilograms of illegal narcotics and over quarter million in seized drug money that assisted agencies with conducting enforcement. During the course of narcotic detection on patrol, Onyx located multiple firearms during motor vehicle stops,” the post stated.

K9 Onyx with Ofc. Timothy Camerl. Courtesy photo

“While on patrol, Onyx tracked and located numerous criminals, emotionally disturbed persons that were in crisis, and assisted with locating lost juveniles. Onyx apprehended numerous fleeing and fighting felons during the course of his career,” police said.

Police K9s are trained to be fierce and focused when they are working, and Onyx was no exception. When not working, however, police said he was a “very loving and personable dog” who enjoyed spending time with Camerl’s family as well as his uniformed teammates. “If you ever gave Onyx a ball or tug toy, a new best friend was made,” police said.

Police line up at Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center on Saturday, April 4, 2026. Courtesy photo

Dozens of police officers – including many K9 teams from throughout the region whose dogs barked in their cruisers during the ceremony – lined up Saturday morning to salute K9 Onyx as part of the End of Watch. An officer donned a dog bite sleeve and gave K9 Onyx the opportunity to work one last time prior to being euthanized by a veterinarian.

Police line up at Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center on Saturday, April 4, 2026. Courtesy photo

Outside the West Hartford Police Department, a cruiser has been placed as a memorial to K9 Onyx.

Memorial to K9 Onyx outside West Hartford Police Department, 103 Raymond Road. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.