K-9 FALKO TO RETIRE IN JUNE

Falko, the Jackson Police Department’s police dog, retired in June, exactly five years after the German Shepherd was deployed.

Officer Todd Fristed, Falko’s handler, asked that the anticipated 2009 retirement be moved up because the dog is visibly slowing down during training and searches. Falko, who is seven years old, had surgery for a bone chip in 2006 and suffered a near-fatal bacterial infection in 2007. It is unknown whether these are factors in the dog’s condition.

“Falko goes through a strenuous training course three times a month”, Chief Jed Dolnick stated. “Each involves a lot of running and jumping as he searches for concealed contraband. It is getting tough for him”.

Dolnick said that there are no immediate plans to replace Falko. “In 2002, it cost $8,000 to buy and train Falko, paid for by donations from our local businesses. The cost is higher now and, with this economy, I’m not comfortable asking them for money”.

Falko’s last official day was Sunday, June 8, when he and Officer Fristed were scheduled to walk in the annual Action in Jackson Parade. Unfortunately, severe storms swept the area, forcing cancellation of the parade.

Falko will live with Officer Fristed after retirement.

From the archives...............

The police department was proud to initiate the county's only police canine unit in 2003. Officer Todd Fristed had a strong interest in creating a canine program, and asked for permission to work on it. Chief Dolnick, in turn, was granted permission by the Village Board, with the understanding that no taxpayer funds would be used to start the program. Officer Fristed visited all of the village's businesses and service organizations. Thanks to their support, Officer Fristed raised the $8,000 needed to purchase and train the dog, as well as train the handler.

All of this work culminated with the activation of Falko in May 2003. Falko is a German Shepherd, and was trained at the Steinig Tal Kennel in Campbellsport. Falko is certified to detect marijuana, cocaine, and heroin; to search buildings; to track; to restrain suspects when commanded; and to protect the handler from attack. Falko receives refresher training three times a month, as well as a full week of recertification training annually.

Falko rides in a special kennel in the back of Officer Fristed's squad car. He has been used to detect controlled substances during searches in the village, and under mutual aid to the Washington County Sheriff's Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, and the police departments of Hartford, Slinger, Germantown, and West Bend.

In 2004, the Germantown Police Department started planning for a K9 unit of its own, and Officer Fristed demonstrated Falko's abilities to their village board. Germantown's K9 unit now works closely with our own.