Retired Ohio Cop Will Get to Keep His K-9 Buddy

A retired Marietta, Ohio police officer’s quest to keep his canine partner was called “unnecessary” and “disingenuous” by the city’s police chief Monday afternoon.

Hickey, who retired last week after more than 30 years on the job, had been teamed with Ajax for the past four years.

Following a city council meeting on Monday, Hickey has been offered a workaround that will allow him to stay with his beloved partner of 4 years, whom the officer says is “one of my children”.

The newspaper reports that Hickey hasn’t decided whether to accept Marietta’s offer.

Hickey told WBNS-TV he’s had the Ajax for three years and that he’s like a family member.

They started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Hickey-a page that has since raised almost $69,000 to bid. He also said that he would like to change Ohio’s law.

“City Law Director Paul Bertram researched and found that because Ajax is not ready for retirement, how he is handled is mandated by the Ohio Revised Code”, the office of Mayor Joe Matthews wrote in a statement Monday.

Soon, Marietta’s city leaders began hearing from angry people demanding that Ajax be reunited with Hickey, NBC affiliate WCMH reported.

Hickey, who became a K-9 officer in 1998 told NBC News that he loves K-9 training and K-9 work. That means that under OH law, Ajax must be sold at auction.

Marietta Police Chief Rodney Hupp said during the press conference that Hickey told him on the evening of January 28 that he would be interested in serving as an auxiliary officer.

Hickey says he will donate the proceeds to an organization that provides bullet proof vests for K-9 officers.

“As social media and the press ramped up around what should have been now rendered a non-issue, former officer Hickey, for reasons known only to him, escalated the situation by being disingenuous”, Hupp said.

UPDATE: Officer Hickey is taking the auxiliary position to keep Ajax.

Hickey says he is confident another option will be found. Ajax is living in his home for now.