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westvalleyview.com — the newspaper of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park & Tolleson, AZ 50¢ Wednesday, July 12, 2017 (623) 535-8439
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BUCKEYE POLICE OFFICER Dave Smith stands with his K-9 partner, Cido, during the 10-year-old Belgian Malinois’ retirement ceremony July 5 at Buckeye City Hall. Cido, who was honored for his eight years of work with the Buckeye Police Department and S.W.A.T, will spend his retirement by joining Smith’s family full time. To see all photos from this shoot, go to www.westvalleyview.com/pictures.
Cido out! Buckeye K9 retires after 8 years of service by Chris Caraveo staff writer
EYE ON THE BALL Sports coverage starts on Page 8.
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Man’s best friend called it a career after serving with the Buckeye Police Department for eight years. Cido, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois, retired from the department July 1, with an official ceremony July 5 during the Buckeye City Council meeting. He worked together with K9 Officer David Smith as a dual-purpose canine, trained in locating illegal substances and suspect location and apprehension. Smith described Cido as very laid back, easy going and social until it is time to work. Throughout his career, Cido helped locate and apprehend numerous suspects who attempted to elude or evade Buckeye police and other law enforcement agencies. Cido also helped discover thousands of pounds of illegal substances and narcotics, including marijuana, cocaine, heroine and methamphetamines, and helped seize millions of dollars in Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization funds during narcotics investigations. “No one incident stands out while working with the SWAT team,” Smith said. “K9 Cido was always ready and willing to assist the team by conducting searches of the area or residence prior to sending team members into the situation.” Cido joined Buckeye police in December 2008 from California. When Buckeye started its K9 program, the trainer for the Goodyear Police Department helped select its dogs. Cido happened to fall into the city’s lap. Cido underwent 400 hours of canine academy with Smith. During that time, he was exposed to different environments and scenarios. Through repetition and exposure, Smith said he and Cido learned how to work together to be successful in their duties. “Once the academy was complete, we were tested to ensure that we successfully met industry standards,” Smith said. “After the academy, we continued to train for 10 hours a week to ensure we kept up on the things we learned during the academy. We never stop training.” When Cido was first introduced to the SWAT team, he had trouble with flash bangs and gun fire, but exposure and training helped him overcome those fears, Smith said.
Three K9 officers are part of the police department, with two SWAT certified in case Cido took a day off, because he was the only canine assigned to work with the SWAT team. Determining when to retire a K9 depends on many factors — age, overall health, type of work performed over the years and willingness to continue working. Smith said Cido is still doing well, but has done some amazing things that were hard on his body, particularly while trying to apprehend suspects, and he preferred to have Cido retire while still at the top of his game. “During training scenarios, we do agility things,” Smith said. “If they’re not succeeding, it’s basically being harder and harder for them to succeed. They have to jump through windows and vehicles. They have to be able to get in the back of a pickup truck. Once they start losing some of that, that’s when it’s time.” The city has another K9 officer about the same age as Cido who still works. The dog is trained in search and seizure only, not in suspect apprehension. “This dog’s career will likely be longer since he wasn’t also going after bad guys, too,” said Annie DeChance, communications manager for Buckeye. Smith has been training a new partner, Cliff, who will become the primary SWAT canine. Cido will become a full-time member of Smith’s family, meaning more time on the couch and in front of the television. The Smiths already have two golden retrievers, Daisy May and Allie May, whom Cido gets along well with, Smith said. More hunting and camping trips are also in store. “He’s great with the kids,” said Julie Smith, David’s wife. “To go from the patrol aspect to being at home – the kids can play ball with him. He’s a big ol’ teddy bear with them.” Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck quoted GK Chesterton at the close of the retirement ceremony, saying, “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” For Cido, it’s the Smiths now instead of the police department. “He is 100 percent part of the pack,” Smith said. Chris Caraveo can be reached at ccaraveo@westvalleyview.com.
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CONGRESSMAN Raúl M. Grijalva holds a healthcare town hall July 8 at Westview High School in Avondale to discuss ongoing efforts in Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act. To see all photos from this shoot, go to www.westvalleyview.com/pictures.
Grijalva rallies against GOP’s new healthcare proposal Congressman says officials have ‘gotten an earful’ during public debate by Glenn Gullickson staff writer
The debate over healthcare policy arrived in the West Valley last weekend with a town hall sponsored by Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva, who said Congress should abandon a Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. As Congress returns to the issue this week after a July 4 recess, Grijalva said he was optimistic that representatives have heard citizens’ complaints about the plan that has passed the House and is under consideration by the Senate. “Everybody has gotten an earful of what the public wants,” Grijalva said at the public meeting July 8 at Westview High School in Avondale. Grijalva, who represents District 3, which covers parts of the West Valley, said Congress should “scrap” the current proposal and start over to work to improve the Affordable Care Act. “There are fixes that the Affordable Care Act needs,” he said about the signature legislative (See Healthcare on Page 4)