Last week we learned that Officer Matt Anderson, of the Freeport Police Department, is resigning on September 28. This left the question of what to do with K9 Officer Otto, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois. This week Freeport’s City Council discussed their options.
As previously reported, the Freeport Police Department does not currently have the manpower to staff the K9 unit after the departure of Officer Anderson. As a result the K9 unit is being dissolved indefinitely, leaving K9 Officer Otto in need of a new home. Chief Summers reiterated to the City Council what he said in his memo from September 16, that the department does not have an officer to put with Otto, adding that FPD “can’t care for the dog.”
The only options were for Otto to be kenneled for an unknown period of time, or to go home with his partner; Officer Anderson. As Anderson is leaving for a different department, the question was raised as to whether Otto would be used at Anderson’s new department. Chief Summers was unable to provide an answer. Luckily for Otto, the council voted unanimously to declare him “surplus property” so that his ownership can be transferred to Matt Anderson. Whether Otto ends up working for another department or spending his days lounging, either is preferable to living in a kennel indefinitely.
This report was brought to you by Nick Nunez our City Hall correspondent.