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 The Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall passes through downtown Wapakoneta Wednesday, September 1. Staff photo/William Laney By CARLA MEYER
Staff Writer
For 45 minutes, the roar of motorcycles could be heard passing under an American flag hanging from two ladder trucks. For 45 minutes, area residents gathered in the shadow of the Auglaize County Courthouse and Wapakoneta Fire Station waved and clapped as motorcyclists rode by.
The smiles and waves turned into clapping and cheers as the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall passed down Willipie Street on its way to Custenborder Field in Sidney where it was greeted by a field of American flags.
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Wednesday, 03 June 2009 |
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Assistant Managing Editor
The Wapakoneta Police Department is currently without a K-9, but the transition has been hardest on a lieutenant who lost his partner.
Adam, the department’s K-9 since 2004, was relieved of his duties in March after developing breathing issues during the winter. X-rays taken by a veterinarian showed he may have pneumonia, but treatments did not help.
City administrators and police officials decided to retire him because of his age. Adam is 9 years old.
His handler, Lt. Russ Hunlock, took Adam to The Ohio State University for further medical tests after the K-9’s retirement, but veterinarians seem baffled by his condition.
“The tests basically resolved nothing,” Hunlock said. “Due to his age, further tests may not yield anything either.”
So instead of being on the job, sniffing out drugs and suspects, Adam is at Hunlock’s residence taking it easy.
Wtih the retirement of Adam, Hunlock, who has served as the K-9 handler for the Wapakoneta Police Department for 17 years, also decided it was time to pass the duty onto someone else.
He said after he was promoted to midnight shift lieutenant more than a year ago that additional responsibilities required more time, leaving less than desired time he would like to spend working with Adam.
Hunlock, who was still a probationary officer when he first started handling the department’s K-9, said he was excited about the opportunity, especially as such a young cop.
No K-9 has been approved to take Adam’s place and no officer chosen as the next handler. Hunlock said they are waiting to make a few decisions before that happens, but he would like to see a new team in place by the end of the summer.
Until then, the department has been calling in K-9s from either the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office or Cridersville Police Department as needed for searches.
“K-9s are a major tool in law enforcement,” Hunlock said citing their keen sense of smell. “They are definitely beneficial.”
K-9s are used to help locate suspects, missing children and adults and detect narcotics.
Each dog tends to have a specialty and Adam’s was finding suspects, although he was capable of all of it, Hunlock said.
One of his bigggest finds was of drugs and cash while assisting troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol in October. He also solved a playground equipment vandalism case at New Beginnings Early Childhood Development Center by tracking the suspect back to his front door. In another case, he located a reckless driver at Colonial Estates.
“He was definitely capable of anything he was trained to do,” Hunlock said.
The Wapakoneta Police Department has the longest history in the county of having a K-9, dating back 30 years ago to when poluce officer Paul Regula handled Flint.
“For a long time we were one of a handful of agencies in the area with a K-9 and the only one in Auglaize County,” Hunlock said.
Hunlock, who has worked with three dogs — Astro, Brix and Adam — during his time at the department, said they typically serve about five years. He’s had them range from four to eight years.
He said the next dog the department would be looking for would be sociable and approachable, a good match for a first-time handler. A friendly dog is important because of the demonstrations and other positive interactions the dog has with people.
“His main purpose is to function as a police dog, but those other things are important parts of what we do, too,” Hunlock said.
Cost varies, but is largely dependent on the age and experience of the dog. Dogs that are older with more experience will cost more, he said.
The department typically gets its dogs from Von der haus Gill, operated by former Wapakoneta K-9 officer Lt. Al Gill, located outside of Wapakoneta.
Wapakoneta Police Chief Dave Webb said they are looking into continuing the historic program with the department, but the first step would be to find the next K-9 officer.
“Russ has done a very good job as the K-9 officer,” Webb said. “He would be involved in training a new officer.
“K-9s are a big assest to departments, serving as public relations at schools and presentations, being a presence during incidents and fight calls, helping to track breaking and entering suspects or someone hiding in a field, and locating drugs during traffic stops,” he said.
Webb said they have to start from scratch, finding not only the dog, but the officer to handle him, too, and he realizes it will take time to get the program started again.
“It’s been a good career. I’ve enjoyed handling a dog,” Hunlock said. “After almost 18 years in law enforcement it’s been difficult not having a partner. It’s something I’ll gradually get accustomed to, but it’s different.”
With at least seven more years before he would retire, Hunlock said he is going to have to get used to it.
“The biggest thing is with a dog, I always had someone with me,” Hunlock said. “Even though it was a four-legged someone, there was always someone watching my every move. It gave you an extra sense of protection, which helps when you’re on your own sometimes and backup is not as close as you might want them to be.
“You can’t ask for a better partner,” he said. “They don’t complain. They like going to work and don’t talk back.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 June 2009 )
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