Washington police retire K9, swear in new one
Mike Jones/Observer-Reporter
Washington police Officer Matthew Karlowsky looks at the city’s police dog, Golem, after they were introduced to the public in June 2014.
Police dog
Katie Anderson/Observer-Reporter
From left, Washington police Chief Robert Wilson stands with Officer Matthew Karlowsky and the station’s new K9 officer, Tony, as the 1-year-old Dutch shepherd mix was sworn in by Mayor Scott Putnam during a city council meeting Thursday afternoon.
A Washington police officer was retired Thursday as he lounged on the floor in City Hall, chewing on a squeaky toy.
Golem, a 5-year-old German shepherd who’s been the department’s K9 officer since June 2014, was retired after he suffered an injured disc near his tail.
“You really wouldn’t be able to tell with a house pet, but this condition prevents the patrol aspect of his job,” said Golem’s handler, Officer Matthew Karlowsky. “He can’t really get up on his hind legs, which he would need to do in drug searches and other aspects of the job.”
Karlowsky said Golem’s condition will not affect his life expectancy, and he will remain Karlowsky’s pet. Karlowsky also will remain the city’s K9 handler, now that the city has a new K9, Tony, a 1-year-old Dutch shepherd mix.
Chief Robert Wilson said Karlowsky did two weeks of training with Tony earlier this month. Moments after Golem was retired, Mayor Scott Putnam swore in Tony, and presented him with his badge. Tony began his first shift that night.
Katie Anderson/Observer-Reporter
Katie Anderson/Observer-Reporter
Washington police Officer Matthew Karlowsky stands with new K9 officer Tony, a 1-year-old Dutch shepherd mix, just after the dog was sworn in Thursday afternoon at City Hall.
Putnam, along with council members and Karlowsky, thanked Golem for his service and gave him a new tag of recognition.
Karlowsky also thanked the city for their support and his wife for putting up with having both dogs in the house and “all the dog hair.”