After almost eight years of service with the Ketchum Police Department, Chester, a golden retriever trained to sniff out drugs or search for missing people, has been retired.
Chester doesn't think he's ready to give up police work, said his handler, Sgt. Forrest Danilson, but his certification has expired and he is being replaced by a younger animal.
"He's getting older," Danilson said, "and we have a pup coming that's just been certified. Chester's in really good shape now, but the chief didn't want something to happen to him and have to put him down."
Chester has lived with Danilson since he became a member of the department's K-9 unit in 1999. Although he's no longer a police dog, Chester gets to continue living with Danilson.
The Ketchum City Council unanimously passed a resolution Monday evening allowing Danilson to purchase Chester for $1.
"Now he gets to ease into retirement," Danilson said. "He doesn't think he's ready yet."
Danilson said Chester was taken out of service in September when his certification expired. But still, some two months later, he waits for Danilson by the door when Danilson is getting ready for work.
"It's a major disruption," he said. "He misses work."
Danilson said Chester has been a valuable K-9 unit member during his career, having sniffed out illegal drugs, helped find missing people and uncovered evidence in various cases.
A different officer will handle the Police Department's new dog, but Danilson said he will oversee the unit and will get to experience the rewards of being a police dog handler "vicariously."
Danilson has another dog at home, a blue heeler that he said gets along well with Chester. There's a large fenced backyard that will allow Chester to run and exercise.
And although his police career is at an end, there may be more work in store for Chester. Danilson said he's considering joining a search and rescue unit along with Chester, who is also trained to find buried avalanche victims.
Chester, a golden retriever, is being retired from the Ketchum Police Department after almost eight years service in sniffing out illegal drugs and searching for missing people.
