BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio — After days of controversy involving the status of the department's K9, Bedford Heights' police chief issued a statement on Thursday that he says will "set the record straight."
As 3News' Kaitor Kay has reported this week, outgoing Bedford Heights K9 police officer Ryan Kaetzel is seeking to keep the department's dog, Bosco, after they worked together for five years. Kaetzel told 3News that turning in Bosco earlier this week "was the toughest thing he's ever had to do in his life."
Chief Michael Marotta says once he was made aware that Kaetzel was leaving the Bedford Heights police force, he made arrangements to assign another officer to the department's K9 unit. On July 17, Kaetzel met with Marotta and Bedford Heights' assistant police chief to discuss his departure. Two days later, Kaetzel filed a lawsuit against the Bedford Heights Police Department. While Kaetzel described the suit to 3News as "unpaid overtime," Marotta says the lawsuit is requesting additional compensation for the care of Bosco.
Kaetzel told 3News that he and Marotta were working on a deal to sell Bosco to Kaetzel for one dollar, but that deal collapsed when he sued the department. Kaetzel believes Bedford Heights police keeping the dog from him is retaliation for the lawsuit.
Marotta says he had planned to advocate for the deal with Kaetzel with the mayor and law director of Bedford Heights. "I hadn't even had a chance to meet with the Mayor to discuss the proposal he (Kaetzel) made at our meeting, when two days later, Officer Kaetzel filed his lawsuit."
On Tuesday, Kaetzel amended his unpaid overtime lawsuit against the department to include a retaliation complaint for not letting him keep Bosco. According to Marotta, Kaetzel's attorney is demanding $143,763 from the department.
In his statement, Marotta pointed out that when it comes to police dogs, the city of Bedford Heights pays for all expenses associated with K9 needs. This includes food, veterinary-related expenses, collars, leashes, etc. The city also pays for the bi-weekly training of the dog and provides the officer with eight hours of pay for the training, despite the fact that the sessions are usually less than a full day. When K9 officers go on vacation, the city pays for the boarding of the dog.
"Officer Kaetzel enjoyed the benefits of a loving and obedient dog without any of the usual expenses associated with that dog," Marotta stated. The chief added that Kaetzel was provided with the use of a city vehicle with the gas paid for to assist him in his 75-mile round-trip commute to work.
Despite the lawsuit, Marotta says that Bedford Heights officials are still negotiating with Kaetzel. "I want to say that the City and Officer Kaetzel are continuing to try to come to a fair and reasonable resolution to this matter. I am hopeful that that can be accomplished soon."
While Bedford Heights deals with Kaetzel's lawsuit, two area organizations told Kaitor Kay on Wednesday that they were willing to buy and completely train a new K9 for the department if they release Bosco to Kaetzel.
"Bosco was the first dog that our organization was able to vest. We provided him with a protective vest for while he's on duty," Trish Kilroy, founder of Protecting Ohio K9 Officers, said. "I love him. I go twice a year. I bring cookies for the dog. I bring him Christmas presents." Kilroy is teaming up with Buckeye Area Regional K9 to try to arrange for Bosco to stay with Kaetzel.
For now, Marotta says the Bedford Heights Police Department is moving forward with its plan to have Bosco placed with the city's new K9 officer. He adds that there are no truth to rumors of alleged mistreatment of Bosco or that the department is planning to euthanize him. "These are bold-faced lies. Bosco is a valued and cherished member of our Department, and we would never consider anything that would harm Bosco. Shame on anyone that would spread such false and vile lies."
You can read Marotta's entire statement below:
