The Greenfield Police Department lost a furry member of the force – K9 Gizmo has died.
Gizmo was a therapy K9 who was with the department since May 2020, “bringing comfort, compassion, and countless smiles to everyone he met,” according to an Aug. 5 Facebook post announcing his death. The department did not release the cause other than calling it “unexpected.”
Gizmo worked with Officer Susanne Aasterud out of Whitnall High School but was often seen around the Greenfield community.
“Whether he was comforting a student, brightening someone’s day, or simply offering a wagging tail during a difficult moment, Gizmo had an incredible gift for making people feel safe, seen, and loved,” the post said. “His paw prints will forever remain on the hearts of those who had the privilege of meeting him. He was more than a Therapy K9 – he was a friend, a partner, and a cherished member of our community.”
Aasterud celebrated 14 years as a school resource officer at Whitnall High School on June 8, according to a Facebook post from the Greenfield Police Department. In her recognition post by the department, Gizmo was called “her faithful therapy dog and partner” who “helped make difficult days a little brighter and good days even better.”
Gizmo, who turned 6 in March 2026, had his own Facebook page, Gizmo Therapy Dog, showing off his escapades to over 450 followers.
He attended the Wisconsin State Fair in 2021, helped advertise the “Legally Blonde” musical at the high school in April 2022, stopped by area businesses such as The Jewelry Center in March 2025, and was part of the Pins Fur Paws bowling benefit for the Greenfield Police Department’s K9 unit in that same month.
Gizmo regularly dressed up for homecoming events, Valentine’s Day and Halloween, as seen on his Facebook page.
He even attended prom at the Milwaukee County Zoo in May dressed in a red and black patterned button-up shirt while greeting students at the door.
In a February 2023 Facebook post from Greendale Village Vet highlighting Gizmo’s first visit, his favorite treat was called out and is classically Wisconsin – cheese.
“Run free, sweet Gizmo,” the department said in its Aug. 5 post. “You will be deeply missed but never forgotten.”
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Community mourns unexpected loss of ‘cherished’ therapy K9 Gizmo
Reporting by Erik S. Hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Erik S. Hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
