Greenfield PD retires K-9 unit Sando

By CAITLIN RYAN
The Highland County Press

A local K-9 has hunted down his last criminal, as the Greenfield Police Department has announced the retirement of Sando.

Sando, a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois, retired after three and a half years of service with the Greenfield Police Department, where he worked alongside his handler, Officer James Leeth.

Sando transferred to Greenfield from the Sugarcreek Township Police Department in the Dayton area, where he worked for five and a half years.

"The Sugarcreek Township police called him the 'million-dollar dog' because he got a million-dollar seizure out of one car in Sugarcreek Township," Leeth said.

Sando is stepping down from the department for health reasons, but Leeth said Sando is a reluctant retiree.

"His hips are hurting him a little bit," Leeth said. "He's actually had two careers and he's very upset with me because I haven't brought him in. When I put the uniform on, he's mad because he's not going."

Although Leeth is Sando's handler, he said the dog served as "a partner with everybody on first shift," as he assisted Leeth and officers Brian McNeil and Jennifer Lowe, particularly with traffic stops.

During his tenure, Sando was an influential part of "helping seize one of the first drug houses in Greenfield" and worked on "multiple felony drug cases." He also assisted in serving more than 18 search warrants in 2013.

Former city manager Betty Bishop sent a letter of commendation to Sando three years ago after he assisted Leeth in apprehending two theft suspects.

"I was the only one on the road," Leeth said. "If it wasn't for Sando, I would have never made one arrest, let alone gotten two people on a theft charge."

Leeth said that Sando was "so much a part of this department."

"He actually just wandered around the police department like an officer," Leeth said.

In addition to his K-9 work, Leeth said that Sando has been "a good PR dog" for the department. Leeth said that while many police K9s can be "aggressive and mean," Sando is "very approachable" and efficient at his job.

"He's been in to the preschools here in town, where kids can pet him and touch him, and he does not get mean," Leeth said.

Sando has also assisted in searches at several Highland County schools.

While there is another police dog currently working for the Greenfield department, Leeth said the department has not started looking for a successor for Sando yet.

"They've asked me, and I love my dog so much that there's no way I can have two police dogs in my house," Leeth said. "I can't give him up to replace him just yet."

Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester said the department also hasn't made any plans yet to hold a retirement party to commemorate Sando's service.

"He's a humble dog and didn't want any fuss," Hester said. "Even though he's retiring, Sando will still be around the station occasionally, so we're not ready to say goodbye yet."

Sando is not the only one upset that he won't be at the station every day, as his absence will be felt by his coworkers as well. Leeth said that Sando had a number of daily routines, including visiting the chief's office twice a day for Hester to give him treats.

"There's actually no replacing Sando," Leeth said. "He's an awesome dog."