Shaker Heights City Council has approved an amendment allowing a former police officer to get his K-9 back.
City council held a special meeting on Friday with the purpose of "amending Section 141.07 of the Administrative Code of the Codified Ordinances of the City regarding the sale of Police dogs, and declaring an emergency."
The meeting came more than two weeks after former Shaker Heights police officer Chad Hagan surrendered 6 1/2-year-old German Shepard, Igor, after he informed the city he would now be working with the Berea Police Department. Under Shaker's previous ordinance, the dog, if deemed still fit for service, must remain with the city.
“We genuinely appreciate the love of animals that has inspired so many people from across the country and beyond to share their thoughts on this situation,” said Shaker Heights Mayor David Weiss. “Our ordinance, which reflects long-standing state law and was known to Officer Hagan, did not provide the authority to address situations when a police officer leaves the department in advance of the retirement of their canine. Today’s Council action to amend the ordinance enables the amicable resolution reached today.”
Igor has remained in a kennel, out of service, for the past two weeks. A canine officer here in Greater Cleveland told WKYC, "The longer you have a K-9 sit with no training, the more worthless he or she becomes for the purpose of law enforcement."
Under the new amendment, an SHPD officer who leaves the city’s canine unit while their canine partner is still fit for duty, may be permitted to take ownership of their canine upon providing sufficient compensation to the city for:
The purchase of a replacement police dog
Training for the dog and a police officer handler
All associated costs, as determined by the chief of police and finance director of the city
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