Tim Ryan, tryan@shawanoleader.com
City officials Wednesday approved the purchase of a new K-9 for the Shawano Police Department to replace a dog that has been increasingly sidelined by behavioral problems.
K-9 Aldo has been with the Police Department since May 2010.
Police dogs usually have a career of six to nine years before they are forced into retirement by physical ailments such as arthritis, Police Chief Mark Kohl said.
In this case, however, the issues are behavioral.
“He started reverting back into being more of an introverted dog and won’t follow commands,” Kohl said. “He’s becoming increasingly more shy, especially around people.”
Aldo was transferred to a new handler within the department after an incident in January 2013.
Police were attempting to arrest a man for operating while intoxicated when the man resisted and a scuffle broke out.
Two other squads, including the K-9 unit, responded to assist.
During the scuffle in which the suspect was taken down to the ground, Aldo entered the fray, but he ended up biting the officer instead of the suspect.
The officer sustained an injury to his lower leg and required medical attention that kept him off-duty for a time.
The council’s approval allows for a new dog to be purchased from Northern Michigan K9 at a cost of $12,500, along with $3,500 for travel, lodging and meals for the K-9 training officer.
The expenses will be covered with $5,000 from the Police Department Drug Enforcement Expense fund and $11,000 from the city’s contingency fund.
Kohl said there is an agreement that calls for Aldo to be returned to Northern Michigan K9 upon his retirement.
However, Kohl said, Aldo might be reunited with his original Police Department handler to live as a pet.
“We want to ensure Aldo goes to a good home for a long and happy retirement,” Kohl said.