But Seriously: Police department changing

Lots of changes are occurring at the Chillicothe Police Department.

The department took a hard hit the week of July 12 through 16. On that Tuesday morning, K-9 Konan died at Sgt. Rich Mark’s home.

Apparently dying of natural causes, Konan lived to the age of 10, a long life for a German shepherd police dog. As a puppy, police dogs are trained until age 2. Konan then worked eight years at the Chillicothe Police Department.

For the animal lovers in town, it’s easy to sympathize with Mark. As civilians, most of us are not with our pets almost all the time.

When Mark went to work, Konan went to work. When Mark went home to unwind, Konan did the same. They took walks or played fetch in the yard, like many of us do with our dogs.

While I was getting police news recently, Mark chatted about the weird feeling of not having Konan with him.

And he’s not the only one to talk about Konan.

The week of Konan’s death, I heard all over town how citizens felt bad about his death.
On our Facebook page, residents expressed sympathy for the department and Mark on the loss. One said her kids loved Konan.

The all-black furry beast made quite an impression on the Chillicothe public.

While Konan had police work to do and was involved in numerous drug arrests, in some ways he was Chillicothe’s pet.

As Chillicothe’s first police dog, he seemed to make an impression on the public.

A memorial for Konan is planned at the front of the police department.

Mark has decided not to be the handler for the next police dog, which may arrive this month or in September.

As the officer with the most seniority, Mark could be the dayshift officer and have weekends off, but the officer with the K-9 usually works second or third shift.

Officer Nick Bridges will probably be the handler.

Bridges also has been getting the department up on the web, with its own web site, and, recently, a Facebook page.

That same week, Sgt. Dean Baize retired on Friday, but not before he had a special partner.

St. Jude patient Dylan Barry rode around with Baize that Thursday.

Dylan’s cancer is in remission, his mom Chantel said, but due to the type he has, he will continue chemotherapy.

He had two wishes, one of being a policeman, and the other to go to DisneyWorld.

Chantel told him she could take care of the policeman for a day by calling Police Chief Steve Maurer. The Make-A-Wish Foundation then took care of the trip to Florida, which will be in September.

Truth be known, Dylan probably used more of the police department’s equipment in one shift than most of its officers.

From the radar, Breathalyzer, Taser and more, Dylan got a taste of what a policeman does.

The next day was time for Baize to work his last shift.

Don’t worry, though.

For those who have gotten to know him in the last two decades, you may still see him around.

He is a part-time officer for the city now, and probably will be seen at festivals when part-time officers are needed.

His new full-time job will be security for OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, which he was scheduled to start at the end of July.

He leaves big shoes to fill. All the new police officers over the years have been trained by him as the field training officer.

Maurer said he did not know yet who would fill that role.

Baize will stay the rangemaster for the department. Officers must regularly qualify their weapons.

The Chillicothe Police & Fire Commission, which is in charge of the hiring, firing and discipline of officers, already began testing for a new officer.

Once it makes a recommendation, then the Chillicothe City Council approves putting the officer on the books.