Staff Reports
A veteran Columbus police officer, who spent most of his law enforcement career as a canine handler, announced his retirement as well as the retirement of his canine partner.
CPD Officer Chad Lehman, a 20 year veteran, completed his final patrol shift on Sept. 2 alongside his canine partner, Oxs, a 7-year-old Dutch Shepherd.
Lehman agreed to continue his work with police dogs and selected Oxs, his second police canine partner, after the retirement of K-9 Rex, who worked at the Columbus Police Department with Officer Lehman for eight years.
K-9 Rex was retired from duty in 2016 and remained in Lehman’s care until he passed away later that year.
“Chad’s career was highlighted by his passion and hard work with police dogs,” said Columbus Police Department Lieutenant and K-9 Supervisor, John Luttrell. “It was a pleasure to get to work alongside him for many years.”
Due to Oxs’ age, he was allowed to retire from duty and remain with Lehman and his family.
Lehman signed paperwork on Sept. 2 that transferred care and ownership of Oxs from the City of Columbus to Lehman.
With Oxs’ retirement, the Columbus Police Department now has two K9s, Argo and Bane, and will be looking to have a third in the future, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman. An exact timetable to obtaining another dog, and selecting a handler for that K9 has not yet been established, he said.
Selecting a dog and matching the dog with a handler can take some time, as police departments are careful to match the two as compatible to work together. The new K9 and new handler will have to train for six weeks prior to beginning additional training in Columbus before the two begin working on patrols, Harris said.
