Dennison PD retires K9 officer Eddie Bronco
DENNISON (WJER) (June 6, 2022) – Village officials are making arrangements to replace the town’s police dog after letting him retire with his handler.
Mayor Greg DiDonato says the police department is getting a grant that will cover half the cost of acquiring and training Eddie Bronco’s predecessor and will use money from its K9 fund to cover the remainder.
“So we are advertising, looking for another potential officer to make the fit. We do have interest within the department so probably the odds are that will be done internally.”
Bronco had been working alongside Steven Feck, who recently announced that he would be stepping down due to health issues. The two completed their final shift together this past weekend and were thanked for their service in a radio transmission from the 911 dispatch center.
“K9 Eddie Bronco has more than earned his place in retirement, and our wish is that he enjoys it to the fullest. Thank you for being a guardian of the night all these years. We are very proud of you and also Officer Feck for stepping in when you needed him the most.”
Feck had asked village leaders to retire Bronco, who turns 6 next month, rather than having him spend the few years remaining in his law enforcement career with another handler. DiDonato says they approved the request believing the transition would be hard on Bronco, whose first handler, Patrolman Andrew Keller, died unexpectedly in March of 2020.