An Upper Gwynedd Officer Is Retiring ... But Not From The Force, Just The SWAT Team

UPPER GWYNEDD, PA — A local police officer has announced his retirement — but not from the force.

Officer Ed Tartar, who serves as one of two K9 Unit officers in the township, was recently honored with a luncheon to celebrate his retirement from the SWAT team.

The Upper Gwynedd Police Department announced the news via Facebook.

Tartar, an officer for more than 16 years, served with both the North Penn Tactical Response Team and the Montgomery County SWAT.

Due to his new role as a K9 officer, he decided to give up his SWAT duties to focus on partnering with his new four-legged coworker, Fury, who recently finished training at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center.

Tartar and Officer Matt Toro are the two Upper Gwynedd cops in charge of the K9 Unit; Toro is partnering with canine Gunner.

In Wednesday's Facebook post, the police department stated that Tartar's first SWAT callout was in 2005, when the Eagles played in the Super Bowl in February of that year.

"Thank you, Officer Tartar, for always extending yourself beyond your role here in Upper Gwynedd!" the police department stated in its post. "You continue to live your life doing great things for our community, our county, and our country! Enjoy your SWAT retirement! (P.S.-Don't plan on retiring from UGPD any time soon ...)"

Check out Patch's previous reporting on the new Upper Gwynedd Police Department K9 Unit here.