Two K-9s with the Waterloo Police Department are retiring from the force, according to the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Axe and Niko both put in their last shift in January. In Axe’s final act he indicated the presence of drugs during a traffic stop. Officers would go on to find 23 pounds of methamphetamine in the vehicle. The 10 year old Axe recently suffered a stroke and has arthritis and will continue to live with his handler, Sgt. Jordan Ehlers. Niko is 12 years old and has reached retirement age. He will retire right alongside Officer Al Bovy, who is also retiring. Both dogs came from Europe, Axe from the Netherlands and Niko from Slovakia. That leaves one K-9 with the Waterloo PD, Barron. He is expected to be joined by two new dogs in the spring. The K-9 unit is funded by donations alone.
