The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
DOG DAY AFTERNOON
City bids farewell to retired K-9s, welcomes new pair
The dogs had their day. Recently retired Mentor K-9s Titan and Bo were honored May 25 at the Mentor Civic Amphitheater. The public also got a look at the city’s rookie K-9s Achilles and Bak.
Titan and Bo retired about three months ago after serving for nearly eight years with the Mentor Police Department. Mentor City Manager Ken Filipiak said K-9s typically serve with police departments for about six to eight years, so they were nearing the tail end of the service time.
“Although I think if they were able to talk to you I think they would tell you they’re ready to keep going for a little bit longer,” Filipak said.
“A properly trained police dog saves about 600 to 1,000 man hours every year by the work that they do and more importantly they’ve been critically integral to the police department not only helping to keep our human officers safe, but they get involved in virtually every aspect (of police activity.”
Titan’s K-9 officer Terry Wurgler said Titan’s not happy about his retirement. Wurgler said that Titan may have been able to do another year, but his leg has been bothering him, so they didn’t want to risk him getting seriously injured.
“Titan doesn’t like to sit still,” Wurgler said. “As soon as I get him out of the car he wants to work. He doesn’t realize he’s been retired for three months, he just thinks he’s been on a little vacation.”
Though he’s retired, the event provided Titan an opportunity to do “his favorite thing in the world,” a bite demonstration involving a decoy suspect wearing a bite sleeve for Titan to attack.
The 100-pound K-9 has the most apprehensions in the department’s history.
Bo’s K-9 officer Bill Mackey said that Bo is happily retired. Bo’s gained 5 pounds in his retirement. Mackey said he and Bo have to adjust to a new routine to keep the retired K-9 in shape.
Work kept Bo in shape, but Mackey said he now has to purposely walk him. He might have to get in a few extra steps after wolfing down a piece of retirement cake in one bite.
Mackey said that Bo had a great career, recalling one incident with a stopped car where Bo’s work help net the seizure of a kilo of heroin, three-fourths of a kilo of cocaine, $100,000 in cash and a handgun. The Cadillac Escalade was also confiscated and sold by the city. The money for the sell — about $50,000 Mackey said — goes back to the police department.
Filipiak said the two K-9s were used 300 times in 2018 and were directly responsible for more than 50 arrests.
“It goes without saying this is dangerous work and I think all of us up here are very, very happy that they’re going to finish out their careers most likely without any serious injury,” Filipiak said.
Wurgler and Mackey are continuing on as K-9 officers, with Wurgler partnering with Achilies and Mackey with Bak.
The new K-9s were paid for through a nearly $29,000 donation for Mentor Municipal Court.
Judge John Trebets said the money comes from a special projects fund that is added on to court costs.
“It’s a way to turn a negative into a positive,” Trebets said, attributing the idea to his wife Pam, who said she convinced him of the benefits of K-9s to the police department and community. The court previously donated funds to purchase Titan, Trebets said.
“K-9s are just awesome because of their unique abilities,” the judge said. “Their sense of smell, their hearing can get into areas officers can’t.”
Trebets said he had the opportunity to watch the new K-9s train with the officers.
“They’re very dedicated, very hardworking and we’re blessed to have them,” he said.
Mentor City Councilman Sean Blake said it’s a sad day to see Bo and Titan retire, but said their retirement is well deserved.
“It’s great that they’ve got many good years ahead of them and they deserve to be happy and well care for,” Blake said.