Lockport Police K-9 Citgo Retires

LOCKPORT, IL — After almost seven years of service, Lockport Police Department's K-9, Citgo, has retired. The 8-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois has been the police K-9 for the department since August 2014.

At Wednesday's meeting of the Lockport City Council, the council approved Citgo's retirement due to his diagnosis of a degenerative condition in his spine. The council transferred ownership to Citgo's handler, officer Andrew Ganger.

"The dog is really good at finding drugs, finding people, but what he's best at, he's really good with people," Chief Terry Lemming said at the meeting.

CITGO provided a grant to the police department for the purchase of Citgo, so his stage name is Citgo, but his real name is Santos, Lemming said.

Lemming said the veterinarian told the department that Citgo can no longer do police work, but can still lead a normal life at home.

"It sucks, but I didn't really have a choice once I saw the X-ray," Ganger said at the meeting. "It was an easy decision. It's better to do it this way, so I can get a couple good years with him at home."

Citgo conducted narcotics searches for the department, and also is certified for tracking and police apprehension.

Ganger, who has been an officer for Lockport since 2006, told Patch there was over 20 dogs he could've chosen when he first picked out Citgo, but they "hit it off perfect."

"[Being a K-9 handler has] always been something I wanted to do with my career," Ganger said. He and Citgo have helped out several area police departments, including the Illinois State Police, by tracking and apprehending suspects, assisting with search warrants and finding narcotics.

"You can't put a price tag on what he can do," Ganger said.

A retirement party is planned for Citgo later this month, and he will enjoy retired life with Ganger and his family.