The City of Shaker Heights has reached agreement with a former Shaker Heights Police Department (SHPD) officer made possible by a change in City law enacted today, in which the City agreed to transfer ownership of the SHPD police dog to the officer who was his handler, and the City will be compensated by the funding of a replacement police dog, and training for the dog and another officer, through a police dog kennel.
On Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, City Council voted to amend a City ordinance to enable this arrangement with former SHPD officer Chad Hagan, Jr., and to address future similar situations. A recording of the City Council Zoom meeting is available here.
The new amendment of the City law provides that an SHPD officer who leaves the City’s canine unit while their canine partner is still fit for duty, may be permitted to take ownership of their canine upon providing sufficient compensation to the City for:
- the purchase of a replacement police dog;
- training for the dog and a police officer handler; and
- all associated costs, as determined by the chief of police and finance director of the City.
When Officer Hagan became a canine officer in 2018, he agreed that the canine would remain with the City if he left City employment prior to the dog being retired from duty, pursuant to City and State law, and the rules for all canine officers in the SHPD. However, when he advised the Department he planned to leave the SHPD, he asked the City to allow him to purchase the police dog. As was communicated to Hagan at that time, because the dog is still fit for duty (as certified in October 2023), the City’s ordinance Section 141.07(d), prior to its amendment, did not allow the City to make this accommodation.
City Council’s amendment to this ordinance, and an agreement between Hagan and City officials, enabled the City to transfer ownership of the dog to the former SHPD officer, even though the dog remains fit for duty, while also allowing the City to meet its fiduciary duties and fiscal responsibilities by being compensated for a replacement police dog and training.
“We genuinely appreciate the love of animals that has inspired so many people from across the country and beyond to share their thoughts on this situation,” said Shaker Heights Mayor David Weiss. “Our ordinance, which reflects long-standing state law and was known to Officer Hagan, did not provide the authority to address situations when a police officer leaves the department in advance of the retirement of their canine. Today’s Council action to amend the ordinance enables the amicable resolution reached today.”
Public reaction to this matter has included vilification of Shaker Heights Police Chief Wayne Hudson and other City officials. “In initially denying Officer Hagan’s request to purchase the police dog before the dog’s retirement, Chief Hudson was following the requirements of City and state law. The City has been working in good faith on this issue and it is unfortunate and disappointing that some people took this as an opportunity to post vile, racist, hate speech online directed at the City’s first Black chief of police,” the mayor said.
A copy of the statement issued on behalf of Officer Hagan regarding the resolution of this matter can be found here.