On Saturday, February 16, 2007, retired Austin Police Department K9 "Austin" passed away due to complications from a recent illness. Austin was a Golden Retriever who was found as a puppy in the woods by hunters and donated to the Austin Police Department by The Texas Hearing and Service Dogs.  Austin was commissioned as an APD K9 Officer in 1999. 

K9 Austin specialized in Search and Rescue and along with his handler, Officer Jim Minton, responded to requests for lost and missing persons in the City of Austin. This K9 team assisted in the Bon Fire Collapse at College Station and provided services in Mexico at the request of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. 

The American Kennel Club has named Austin as Search and Rescue Dog for the year 2000. K9 Austin retired with Officer Minton in 2004.