Mike Wolanin | The Republic Columbus police K-9 Argo pants during his retirement ceremony at Columbus City Hall in Columbus, Ind., Monday, April 22, 2024. Argo has served as a police K-9 with the Columbus Police Department for 12 years.
A Columbus Police Department K-9 who has served Columbus for over a decade was the wagging recipient of a send-off into retirement on Monday.
“This is a little unusual, I’ve never read a proclamation for a dog, but it’s deserved,” Mayor Mary Ferdon said before declaring April 22 “K9 Argo Day.”
Argo was joined by his handler, CPD K9 Officer Branch Schrader, Police Chief Steve Norman, CPD officers and city officials on the steps of city hall to wish the 13 year-old German Shepard/Belgian Malinois mix well and thank him for his service.
Schrader has spent 20 years at the Columbus Police Department and for 12 of those years he has had Argo by his side.
Argo is a dual-purpose K9 trained in narcotics and patrol work and was responsible for 482 arrests and 443 narcotics seizures during his time.
He also was deployed for 105 building searches and used in more than 150 tracks, including one when he helped another agency locate a missing child, according to the proclamation.
Most K9s work five to seven years, police officials said. Argo has pretty much doubled that time because of his “drive and love to go to work,” according to Schrader.
During the ceremony Argo seemed curious about the number of people on the city hall steps and gently hopped up and down at the commotion.
“He’s just waiting for us to do some work, ” Schrader said. ” He’s wanting to know what we’re going to do next. He doesn’t know he’s retired, so I’m going to have to find games to keep him busy.”
Argo will spend his retirement in Schrader’s company in a rural area where he will “have room to run and get out and do stuff.” Schrader mentioned the extra time now in Argo’s day will involve tennis balls.
“We appreciate you stepping up and agreeing to take another pup and doing with Odin what you’ve done with Argo,” Norman said of Schrader. “He’s served the community well and we appreciate him and you.”
The new K9 Schrader will be working with is, Odin, a 16-month old Belgian Malinois.
