After nine years and more than 10,000 calls for service, Ansonia’s Police Dog, Thor, took his last ride as a member of the city’s finest in the back of Officer Steven Martins’ cruiser Monday (June 23).
Martins rolled up Elm Street about 10:30 p.m. as more than 20 officers from Ansonia, Derby, and Seymour formed a guard of honor on the street in front of the police station to thank him for a job well done.
Thor exited the vehicle as cops and other officials clapped in salutation.
“It’s incredible,” Martins, a 13-year veteran of the department, said after the tribute.
Thor, a German shepherd nearly 11 years old, has been Martins’ partner since the two graduated from the RENBAR Kennels Police Canine Academy April 15, 2005, and the two have been patrolling the city’s streets ever since.
“He was a very, very successful dog, he had a very successful career,” Martins said. “Numerous apprehensions, numerous drug finds. He’s an incredible animal.”
For example, Martins and Thor were among several officers thanked by the federal Department of Justice in 2010 for their work nabbing three men for stealing dozens of firearms in a sting operation.
And last year the pair were honored at the department’s annual awards ceremony for their work helping to flush out a suspect from a Main Street robbery.
Thor is a “dual-purpose” dog, Martins explained.
That involves patrol work — tracking suspects, evidence recovery, building searches — and detecting narcotics.
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Since 2010, Thor has assisted other officers on 442 motor vehicle stops.
He has also assisted other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on 240 occasions, and performed more than 30 school security walk-throughs, as well as a number of demonstrations and greetings at local schools and community groups.
Thor is retiring due to medical issues, but will remain by Officer Martins’ side — a clause in the police union’s contract allowed him to pay $1 to purchase the dog, according to John Marini, the city’s corporation counsel.
Martins said he didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the offer.
“He’s done just an incredible amount of work,” Police Chief Kevin Hale said of Thor. “And he still wants to work. He still has that fire. You don’t always see that in police canines.”
“He’s been such an asset for so long,” the chief went on. “You always know this day’s going to come with a dog, but you hope it doesn’t.”
A handful of city officials were also on hand at the police station Monday, including Mayor David Cassetti, who was a member of the city’s Police Commission when Thor began his career in 2005.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been nine years,” the mayor said.
Cassetti and Hale said they hope to figure out a way to replace Thor with another police dog in the near future.
“I’m anticipating hopefully by the latter part of the summer going out and and getting another one,” Hale said.
Cassetti, proud of his Sicilian roots, also gave Thor an appropriate retirement gift last week.
“We gave him some meatballs,” Cassetti said.
The city and police department will be holding a ceremony and reception to honor Thor’s career Monday, June 30, at 2 p.m. in Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall, 253 Main St.
The public is welcome to attend.
