His Dog Days Are Over

For the past nine years, Montgomery Township Police Sgt. Glenn Davis has been the handler for K-9 Officer Aston. More importantly, they have been partners.

Aston, a nearly 8-year-old German shepherd, retired from service on Oct. 17. On Monday night, flanked by Davis, Davis' wife Tiffany and their sons Cooper and Jacob, Aston was honored and recognized for his service by township supervisors with a plaque — and some dog biscuits.

"Tonight, we recognize another retiring employee of the township. This one's of the four-legged variety," said police Chief Scott Bendig at the meeting. "Aston retired after nearly nine years of service to the Montgomery Township Police Department. Aston was purchased by the police department in 2004 and served as a dual purpose K-9, specializing in both patrol work and narcotics detection."

Bendig said Aston, through his distinguished career, and Davis responded to more than 400 calls for service, resulting in the arrests of numerous offenders and the seizure of significant quantities of drugs.

Aston and Davis have also competed yearly in the United States Police Canine Associations Police Field Trails, obtaining tracking, narcotic, Detector Dog and PD1 certifications, Bendig said.

"K-9 Aston is well known in our community, having been involved in over 60 public demonstrations and appearances during his years of service," said Bendig. "As you can see, he's adjusted quite well to retirement, residing with Officer Davis and his family. Cooper and Jacob are now the official handlers of Aston."

Davis said it was time for Aston to retire, as he was showing signs of age. The police department purchased Aston from Slovakia, Davis said.

"He has slowed down a bit," Davis said. "It's the best time for him to spend his last few years of retirement. He's been my partner for seven years and now we'll be able to take him home."

Montgomery Township Police kennels their K-9s at the station. Now, Aston has a new home. Davis said part of the K-9 officer process involves interviews wherein handlers are asked what will happen once the dog gets ill and has to retire from service.

"They make sure they have a good home to go to," Davis said.

That home includes Davis' two sons, who now have a new best friend.

"I like to play catch with him," said Cooper Davis. Glenn Davis said when Cooper was little, he took to his dad being a K-9 handler, complete with a training outfit and his own leash for Aston.

In their seven years of service, Davis remembered one big incident they worked on together a few years back.

"One that comes to mind is Hilltown had a robbery with a pursuit. The car crashed and the car was on fire. Once the fire was under control, they realized the driver was gone," Davis said. "We got there 45 minutes after. Aston was able to track the driver out to the power lines in Hatfield off Orvilla Road. He was bedded down in the thicket."

With Aston's retirement, the Police Department is down to three K-9 officers.

Davis will no longer be a K-9 handler; he will continue to be a watch commander for one of the four police squads.

The partnership may be gone, but the friendship never resigns.

"It was better than that," Davis said of Aston's companionship. "He never called in sick and never complained."