WEST SPRINGFIELD — K-9 Rado, a police dog with the West Springfield Police Department, retired this week after seven years of service. His last day on the beat was Thursday.
“Rado has been a loyal and courageous partner to Officer John McCarthy and a vital member of the force since the beginning of his career,” Sgt. Joseph Lafrance, spokesperson for the department, said in a statement.
Rado started his training in patrol and narcotics detection soon after joining the department.
During his career, the department deployed him about 200 times for various tasks, including searching for drugs, finding missing people and apprehending suspects. This number does not include alarm checks, K-9 demonstrations and other less urgent calls.
“Whether locating suspects, leading them to surrender, or performing physical apprehensions, Rado consistently demonstrated professionalism, courage, and reliability in the line of duty,” Lafrance said in his statement.
One memorable moment in Rado’s career was when he caught a burglary suspect fleeing with $130,000 in stolen cash, he said. After that, Rado helped track down a key witness, which led to the capture of another suspect and the getaway driver.
During his time on the force, Rando once tracked a suspect who had fled at night into the Connecticut River, following him into the water and causing the suspect to surrender, the department said. In September, a short vehicle pursuit and foot chase of a person police suspected of committing several violent felonies ended with Rando locating them hiding in dense brush.
“Rado’s work ensured the safety of all officers involved in the pursuit, demonstrating that he had not lost his effectiveness despite nearing retirement,” Lafrance said.
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