December has been a special month for Dano, a K9 cop with the Brookhaven Police Department.
According to a news release, the Belgian Malinois celebrated his 10th birthday Dec. 18 and officially retired from the department 10 days earlier in a small ceremony.
Dano was bred by John Ritch, the departmentâs canine officer. He began serving Brookhaven in 2013 alongside then-Officer David Fikes, who has since been promoted to sergeant. During his time as a Brookhaven Police canine, Dano received certifications in narcotics detection, tracking and criminal apprehension and was recertified in each category every year.
Dano is not the departmentâs first K9 officer (Ritch brought K9 Grizz with him when they joined Brookhaven from the Sandy Springs Police as a team). But he is the first dog to be trained and work for only the Brookhaven Police, which was founded in 2013, about six months after the city incorporated.
Dano, a Brookhaven Police K9 cop, has retired
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Policía canino de Brookhaven se retira después de años de servicio
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Brookhaven K-9 officer retires on 10th birthday
By FOX 5 Digital Team
Published
(Brookhaven Police Department)
BROOKHAVEN, Ga. - After seven years in the Brookhaven Police Department, one of the department s most beloved members is hanging up his badge.
K-9 Officer Dano has officially retired right before his 10th birthday.
Dano, a Belgian Malnoise, was born to be a K-9 officer. Bred and raised by Canine Officer John Ritch, Dano began serving his community in 2013.
During his seven years on the force, Dano helped arrest more than 150 offenders and received certifications in narcotics detection, tracking, and criminal apprehension.
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The K-9 officer was also responsible for seizing nearly $670,000 in currency and more than $4.7 million in illegal narcotics.