BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio — There's been a lot of concern over the future of a Bedford Heights Police Department K-9. Some in the community are scared the dog could be euthanized, as its handler moves on to another police department.
On Tuesday, an amended lawsuit was filed by the outgoing officer who wanted to take the K-9 with him as his personal dog.
Bedford Heights PD Officer Ryan Kaetzel has worked with Bosco the K-9 around the clock for five years and considered him a part of his family.
Kaetzel said when he announced he was transferring to another police department, discussions began about taking Bosco with him as his personal dog. He says Bedford Heights' police chief said he'd sell Bosco to Kaetzel for one dollar, but that deal collapsed when he sued the department on July 19 for unpaid overtime. Kaetzel believes Bedford Heights police keeping the dog from him is retaliation for the lawsuit.
3News spoke with Kaetzel's attorney Shannon Draher Tuesday afternoon. She said since Bosco is an elderly dog of 7 years old, she's not sure what the department will do with him after Kaetzel leaves.
Community rumors have swirled of euthanasia, but the Bedford Heights Police Department has sent 3News a statement saying that, "any suggestion that Bosco would be euthanized or otherwise harmed or mistreated is utterly false." They call Bosco "valued and cherished" and said they plan to assign the K-9 a new officer so he can continue his law enforcement efforts.
But Kaetzel told us that as a senior dog, Bosco deserves to retire, not to be put back to work.
Draher also pointed to Ohio Revised Code Section 9.62 that states if a K-9 unit is disbanded, or if a K-9 is too old or unfit for duty, that the K-9's handler can purchase the dog for one dollar.
Tuesday afternoon, Kaetzel amended his unpaid overtime lawsuit against the department to include a retaliation complaint for not letting him keep Bosco.
Meanwhile, Kaetzel tells us that turning in Bosco "was the toughest thing he's ever had to do in his life."
3News reached out to the Bedford Heights Police Department for comment on the legal retaliation complaint and are awaiting a response.
