City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date: December 6, 2005

Item No.:

Recommendation: That the Common Council approve the retirement of K-9 Ringo and concur with the Transfer of Ownership Agreement which conveys ownership of Ringo to Officer Steve York.

Background: K-9 Ringo began service to the City of Oak Creek in May of 1997. The K-9 team of Officer Steve York and K-9 Ringo have served the community with diligence for the past eight years. K-9 Ringo is now ten years old. This is equivalent to 70 years of age in human years. His best years of fighting crime are now behind him and it’s time to retire.

A Transfer of Ownership Agreement is attached. The document addresses that all future costs regarding K-9 Ringo will be the responsibility of Officer Steve York as, with this action, we are officially transferring the ownership of Ringo to him. Officer Steve York also agrees to accept the responsibility for any and all future needs, including medical, of his retired partner Ringo. The Agreement is the same used for past K-9 retirements, and has had previous legal review.

Fiscal Impact: The K-9 replacement cost is $15,000. These monies have been requested in the 2006 C.E.P. budget.

Prepared by:

Lt. Daniel Hermann

Approved by: Fiscal Review by:

Thomas P. Bauer Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

Chief of Police City Clerk

TRANSFER OF

OWNERSHIP AGREEMENT

This is an Agreement by and between the City of Oak Creek Police Department (hereinafter the “City”), the Oak Creek Professional Police Officer’s Association by the Labor Association of Wisconsin (hereinafter the “Association”) and Officer Steve York. The parties are desirous of working out mutually agreeable arrangements for the retirement of one of the City’s canine dogs, Ringo, to Officer Steve York.

1. The parties hereby agree that, effective after the City Council approves this Agreement that on December 31 , 2005, Ringo will be retired from service for the City.

2. As a result of the retirement, the City agrees to transfer ownership of Ringo to Officer Steve York at no cost. Officer York understands and agrees that the City offers no warranty as to the current or future condition or health of Ringo; Officer York agrees to accept ownership of Ringo “as is” and that he is taking full responsibility for any and all costs associated with the care and maintenance of Ringo. This transfer means that all ownership and rights after December 31, 2005, belong to Officer York.

3. Officer York and the Association agree that they will not put Ringo into service as a canine drug/patrol dog for any entity at any time in the future, including actual use in narcotics searches, detection or patrol functions, as well as for any training associated with narcotics searches, detection or patrol functions. Officer York and the Association agree not to sell Ringo for profit, loan Ringo out, or give him away, if the purpose of such transfer is for the purpose of Ringo engaging in narcotics detection, searches or patrol functions.

4. Officer York and the Association agree that Ringo’s certification for conducting narcotics detection, searches or patrol functions will expire upon Ringo’s retirement from service with the City on December 31, 2005. Officer York and the Association agree that they will not attempt to re-certify Ringo for narcotics detection, searches and patrol functions, and will not offer Ringo’s services to any private or public entity, or personally use Ringo for narcotics detection or patrol functions.

5. Officer York agrees to return any and all Departmental property issued for use with canine drug/patrol dogs, at the direction of the canine unit supervisor.

6. Officer York and the Association agree to hold the City of Oak Creek harmless and also agree to file no claim of any kind, including but not limited to, a grievance, lawsuit, Fair Labor Standards Act action (state or federal), or any other claim or suit arising out of Ringo’s service to the City, Ringo’s retirement as a canine drug/patrol dog from the City, or Officer York’s claim for salary or benefits for prior maintenance and care of Ringo.

7. Officer York agrees not to retrain Ringo for other police-related services (i.e., patrol, search, etc.) for the purposes of financial gain.

8. This document is the full and complete agreement between the parties regarding this matter. The parties’ signatures below constitute consent to the Agreement and transfer of ownership of Ringo to Officer York.

_________________________________________ ___________________________

Officer Steve York Date

_________________________________________ ___________________________

On behalf of Oak Creek Police Date

OCPPA, LAW

_________________________________________ ___________________________

On behalf of City of Oak Creek Date

Police Department

City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date: December 6, 2005

Item No.:

Recommendation: That the Common Council approve Proclamation No. 05-22, recognizing the retirement of K-9 Ringo, the third police service K-9 for the City of Oak Creek.

Background: K-9 Ringo began police service for the City of Oak Creek in May of 1997 with Officer Steve York as his handler. Due to the age of Ringo, it was determined that it was time to retire him.

Fiscal Impact: The City is replacing K-9 Ringo with another dual purpose K9 at a cost of $15,000. These monies have been requested in the 2006 C.E.P. budget.

Prepared by:

Lt. Daniel Hermann

Approved by:

Thomas P. Bauer

Chief of Police

Fiscal Review by:

Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

City Clerk

COUNCIL PROCLAMATION 05-22

RETIREMENT OF

CANINE RINGO

The Third Police Service K-9 for the City of Oak Creek

WHEREAS, a decision was made to acquire a dual purpose dog in January of 1997; and

WHEREAS, Officer Steve York was chosen to become a K-9 handler and was sent for training/introduction to K-9 Ringo in April of 1997 ; and

WHEREAS, Officer Steve York and K-9 Ringo returned in May of 1997 and began their tour; and

WHEREAS, Officer Steve York and K-9 Ringo have responded from home on a moment’s notice to calls for police service; and

WHEREAS, the team competed in the 1997 Police & Fire Games and won a gold and silver medal; and

WHEREAS, the team secured the first search warrant in Milwaukee County for a dual-purpose K-9 in May of 2000; and

WHEREAS, the team was awarded the Meritorious Narcotics Find award by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers Association in 2001.

NOW, THEREFORE, we acknowledge this highly effective team and honorably discharge K-9 Ringo from service effective December 31, 2005.

Passed and adopted this 6th day of December, 2005.

________________________________

Mayor, City of Oak Creek

ATTEST:

________________________________

City Clerk

________________________________ ________________________________

Alderman, 1st District Alderman, 4th District

________________________________ ________________________________

Alderman, 2nd District Alderman, 5th District

________________________________ ________________________________

Alderman, 3rd District Alderman, 6th District