Waynesboro, Pa. - The Waynesboro Police Department has lost a very valuable member of its force.

"Ex," the Czechoslovakian Shepherd and K-9 officer, died of bone cancer earlier this month after nine years of service.

Cpl. John Schindledecker says after meeting more than 40 dogs in 1998, he knew he'd found his partner when he found Ex.

“We just clicked,” said Schindledecker. “We were actually born on the same day - Christmas Day. We celebrate it together every year.”

From there, the pair was inseparable - working and living together.

“As long he would see me, he was fine," said Schindledecker. "Even if I was sitting on the recliner, he would have to adjust himself to see me. So I'd play games with him - I'd move over a little bit, he'd move over a little bit.”

During his nine-year career, Ex aided in hundreds of arrests, helping get thousands of dollars of drugs off the streets in the borough. This year, the Waynesboro Police Department led the county in drug arrests.

"One time, we were doing a search at the Best Western, and he found 14 grams of crack. It was hidden up in the ceiling,” said Schindledecker.

But he wasn't just a drug dog - he was a patrol dog and a utility dog.

“We had kind of a violent rape here in town, and the suspect bailed out on foot. I probably wouldn't have caught him. I fell in a ditch. I already deployed Ex and he caught him,” said Schindledecker.

And perhaps most importantly, Ex was a watchdog.

“Two barks from Ex, and they're done," he said.

Even though Ex is gone, Schindledecker says his crime-fighting partner is still watching.

“Every time I do a traffic stop, I still roll down my window and I look back for him,” said Schindledecker. “I don't know why - it's just really weird.”

Schindledecker plans to buy a new K-9 in March, but in order to do so, the police department will have to raise approximately $13,000.

Donations can be sent to the Waynesboro Police Department K-9 Unit.