Community members crowded into the Farmington police station Tuesday afternoon to say goodbye to Drak, an ace police dog retiring to the home of his handler after nine years of service.
"There are more people here for Drak's retirement than ours, so he's obviously much more popular than us," joked Farmington Police Chief Paul Melanson.
Melanson highlighted Drak's accomplishments, describing the K-9's first week on the job, when Drak tracked a bank robber to a home where he was holding a woman hostage.
"From then on, it was just amazing the type of police dog he was. But really, that's just the beginning of Drak, is the police work," Melanson said. "It is rare when you get a dog that can do not only the police work but also the community relations work."
He said Drak was a big hit at local schools, where secretaries kept treats in their drawers and nurses called him by name.
"The way he interacted with the kids at the schools was absolutely amazing to me," Melanson said of the 11-year-old K-9.
The chief also praised Drak's partner, Officer Joe Capodiferro, saying the K-9's success "is a testament to not only Drak but to the handler."
The two have been inseparable, spending full days in Capodiferro's cruiser and putting in more than 7,500 hours training over nearly a decade of work together. Melanson said the K-9 has always been "willing to put his life on the line in a moment's notice to help protect Joe."
Although they'll no longer be partners at work, the K-9 and his human counterpart are still a team. Drak will live out the rest of his days at home with Capodiferro, surrounded by love and spoiled with treats.
"It's been quite phenomenal to be with a dog with such versatility," said Capodiferro. "It's different being in the car and not having him near me; I'm not used to him not being behind me."
Capodiferro said he plans to follow Drak's lead and serve another year and a half with the police department before retiring himself.
Drak and Capodiferro will pass the torch to the department's new K-9 officer Ryker and his partner Officer Kyle Mortensen.
