The Centralia City Council Monday night honored K9 Bert and his handler Cameron Ward on nearly eight years of service.
Bert was retired earlier this month due to some developing health problems.
Centralia Police Chief Christopher Locke provided a history of Bert’s accomplishments before presenting a plaque to Ward and a large new bone to Bert to enjoy in his retirement.
“Handlers and K-9s form a really special bond as they do with the rest of the department. We look at them as one of us. They are being sent in when we won’t go in. So it’s they that pay the ultimate sacrifice a lot. So we felt it vitally important to recognize Bert and Cam for the work they’ve done.”
Locke says Bert has nearly 500 documented deployments, 40 of those are for tracks of fleeing criminals and the remainder being for drug sniffs. He notes while Bert tracked down numerous suspects, there were three that were especially noteworthy.
- December 25th, 2015: A murder suspect was apprehended but the weapon in question was not in the suspect’s possession. Bert tracked the path of the suspect and was able to locate the weapon under a low hanging pine and covered by leaves. The weapon would have likely never been found if not for Bert.
- August 26th, 2016: Bank robbery suspects fled into a cornfield. Bert was conducting a track and located the stolen money. Shortly after this, the suspects were forced from the field and taken into custody.
- April 14th, 2019: A suspect involved in an armed robbery in Centralia as well as Mt. Vernon was located because of Bert’s track. In addition, he also located the rifle used in the crime.
Locke also noted during Bert’s narcotic certifications, the administrators from the training board had bragged to Cameron that they had been all over the state during the trials and Bert had worked harder to find drugs than any other they witnessed.
Ward also addressed the city council on his reflection of being Bert’s handler.
“Past seven years and seven months have been a pleasure and a privilege to serve the community in this capacity. It’s taken me to places I never thought I’d go. I’ve done things most people in this room couldn’t fathom. But I’m excited to have him live out the last few years of his life a free dog.”
The council applauded the work of the two.
Locke says he wants to add a new K9 to the department. It is currently under consideration in the budget for next year. If that’s not possible, the chief plans to reach out for donations.
