A long-time member of the Mt. Carmel Police Department is about to retire and his replacement is coming in from Alabama.
Police Chief Ryan Turner made the announcement at Monday’s City Council meeting that K-9 Ace is being retired after 8 years with the MCPD. He’ll be replaced with a new K-9 from Alabama that will differ in that it will not alert to marijuana as Ace has. Since marijuana laws have been relaxed in Illinois, Turner said it was no longer necessary for the K-9 unit to hit on marijuana. Instead, it will hit on hard drugs like meth, LSD, and heroin.
K-9 officer Daniel Hopper will take the new dog for 10 weeks of training at the Illinois State Police academy in August.
Turner said the $15,000 price tag will be at no cost to the city as it will be paid for through Crimestoppers and fines and fees paid through the courts.
As for Ace’s retirement plans, he’ll spend his remaining years with State Trooper Steve Perry who was Ace’s first handler when Perry was the MCPD K-9 officer.
MCPD K-9 officer Daniel Hopper and Ace.
Photo courtesy of: Daniel Hopper Facebook
WSJD 2012 File Photo:
Former MCPD K-9 officer Steve Perry and Ace at a school shooter drill at St. Mary’s School.