CLEVELAND, Ohio – The break-up between man and dog has hit Shaker Heights police, as an officer’s departure has caused a difficult separation.
Chad Hagan, a seven-year officer, had to part with his K-9 partner because he is transferring to another department. In November, Hagan turned in his resignation to Wayne Hudson, the city’s chief.
Hagan had worked with the dog since 2018.
His last day is Sunday. He was ordered to take his partner, Igor, to the Beacon Hill Kennel, a boarding facility in Parma, on Nov. 29. A similar dispute happened in Bedford Heights last summer, when an officer was forced to give back his dog. They were reunited days later.
In Shaker Heights, Hagan had hoped to buy the 6-year-old German shepherd, offering $10,000 for it. But the city says it has no authority to sell the animal.
“A city police officer who leaves the city’s canine unit while the police dog assigned to the officer is still fit for duty forfeits the right to purchase the animal under this section,” a city ordinance says.
Danielle Hagan, the officer’s wife, said the family is heartbroken.
“I’ve only seen my husband cry one other time when his dad passed away. He is devastated,” she said.
Chad Hagan declined to be interviewed, as he is still employed by Shaker Heights. He will be sworn in as an officer at his new department Monday, but the family declined to say which one.
Hudson offered Hagan the option to stay two more years with the department and then permit Igor to retire. Hagan decided to change police departments to be closer to his home in Brunswick with his wife and 1-year-old daughter.
“He has nearly an hour commute for every shift. He just wanted to do what’s best for his family,” his wife said.
The city denied the request because Igor has “an expected three or four years of service before likely retirement,” a statement from the city said.
Purchasing a new police dog can cost $8,500 to $13,000, depending on the breed and what the dog is trained to perform, the city said.
