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Council retires K9 «Auto»; ownership transferred to handler after nearly six years of service
Summary
The council approved a resolution retiring Puyallup Police Department K9 Auto and transferring ownership to the handler; Police Chief Scott Engel summarized Auto and handler deployments and seizures during the dog's career.
The Puyallup City Council on Oct. 7 approved a resolution retiring the department’s narcotics K9 known as Auto and transferring ownership to the officer who handled him.
Chief Scott Engel introduced the resolution and described the dog’s record before the council. ‘‘K9 Auto was a narcotics dog with his handler Officer Bond since 02/2019,’’ Engel said, and added the team deployed hundreds of times for local and regional partner agencies. The chief provided the department’s seizure totals attributed in part to Auto’s deployments, including large amounts of methamphetamine (215.36 kilograms), fentanyl (37.07 kilograms), heroin (19.33 kilograms), and $3,238,000 in suspected drug proceeds; officers also seized multiple illegal firearms in related operations.
Chief Engel said Officer Bond will move to a new canine position as a generalist and will select a new tracking dog; Auto will retire to live with his handler and the handler’s family. The resolution declares Auto surplus to city needs and authorizes transfer of ownership to the officer; the council approved the resolution by motion and voice vote.
Why this matters: Auto’s retirement recognizes a working partnership between a handler and a canine that served Puyallup and partner agencies in the region. The resolution also conforms with municipal practice for retiring and transferring city-owned k9 animals to handlers when appropriate.
Action: The council approved the resolution to retire K9 Auto and transfer ownership to the handler. Officer Bond and family were present for the presentation.
