The Chattanooga Police Department announced the retirement of K9 Duco, who has spent the majority of his life serving the department and the community.
K9 Duco served seven years with CPD as a dual purpose dog who was trained in the areas of narcotics detection, suspect apprehension, handler protection, building searches, area searches and tracking suspects.
From 2011 to 2018, Duco is credited with:
• 370 vehicle searches
• 253 building searches
• 426 arrest assists
• 61 suspect tracks
• 153 K9 apprehensions
• 170 guns recovered
• numerous seizures of illegal narcotics
Duco also assisted the FBI, TBI, Homeland Security, ATF, US Marshal Service, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Georgia State Patrol, Collegedale Police Department, Soddy Daisy Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Red Bank Police Department, East Ridge Police Department and Catoosa County Sheriff's Office.
In 2016, Duco earned the honor of Top Dog at the United States Police Canine Association Region 22 Fall Trials. He was also on scene as part of the response team to the July 16, 2015 terrorist attack at the Naval Operations Support Center in Chattanooga.
Duco will spend his retirement years with his last CPD handler, Steven Meador. The pair worked together from 2014 to 2018.
"Duco loved his job, he was always excited when it was time to work," said handler Meador. "Duco and I've been in some tight spots together and I'm very grateful he's being retired to me."
CPD appreciates the service and contributions K9 Duco made during his time with the department, officials said.