×

K-9 retiring in Barnesville

Photo Provided Barnesville police K-9 DIxie and her handler, Officer Andrew Stewart, pose with some items purchased with proceeds from a community fundraiser held a couple of years ago. Dixie is retiring this month at 7 years old.

BARNESVILLE — Police Chief Rocky Sirianni recently announced the retirement of the department’s K-9 officer, Dixie, after his decision to remove her handler, Andrew Stewart, from those duties while keeping him on as a member of the department.

Sirianni explained his difficult decision to council earlier this month.

“It wasn’t necessarily retirement on good terms on his behalf,” the chief said of Stewart. “He’s still with the department, however there were certain issues that rendered me having to make a decision to either continue the K-9 program with him as a handler or not.

“We decided Dixie is already at an age that if we were to have him not handle her and get another handler, she’s old enough now that it would be too much. That would be her third handler and she’s already 7 years old.”

According to a written statement from the village, the Barnesville Police Department K-9 unit began in 2014 with Dixie as the first dog to serve in that capacity with Ben Neuhardt as her initial handler. When Neuhardt left the department as a full-time officer in 2016, Stewart, who was a relatively new officer at the time, showed a passionate drive to be a K-9 handler and began working with her in late 2016.

The statement lauded the pair for making multiple felony arrests and apprehensions while bringing the community together in a positive way, such that the K-9 program was funded almost entirely by donations.

The statement expressed appreciation to Dixie as well as the community, saying: “Dixie and the department are forever grateful to the community for all of their help and support. She is a special and amazing dog who was always happy to have the opportunity to come to work and do her job.”

Sirianni said that the department will be allowing Stewart to take ownership of Dixie due to the relationship they have forged in their four years working together. He added that the Barnesville Police Department would like to continue with its K-9 program, adding that the officers are now planning and deciding how to move forward.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today