Behind the Badge
In the photo, he’s relaxing.
On a backyard love seat.
You would, too, if in nearly seven years on the job you had located the following amount of narcotics and drug-related money:
170 grams of heroin
7.5 pounds of methamphetamine
420 pounds of marijuana
57 kilos of cocaine
$4,182,725 of drug-related money
Whew!
Cisko, a German shepherd with the Anaheim Police Department’s K-9 unit, is retiring – a milestone being recognized tonight by the Anaheim City Council.
The council on March 17 formally will approve his transfer and release to Officer Brian Bonczkiewicz, his handler.
“He is still healthy and happy and he has earned a chance to take a break and slow down,” the Anaheim PD said of Cisko, who is almost 9.
Cisko started his police service with the Anaheim PD in May 2008 and quickly distinguished himself as an apprehension and narcotics K-9.
During his career, Cisko apprehended 40 violent and dangerous felons, the Anaheim PD said.
During one notable bust, the suspect jumped into the middle of a pool and dragged Cisko to the bottom of the pool with him.
Cisko was able to let go and swim to the side.
In addition to being effective on the war on drugs, Cisko made more than 300 other felony suspects surrender peacefully to officers. He also was a valuable tool on the SWAT team, helping end dangerous standoffs without an officer being injured.
Cisko was a regular at school during Red Ribbon Week, in which kids are taught to say no to drugs. And he was one of the APD’s only service dogs that worked during the day and was available to assist other law enforcement agencies.
During his career as an Anaheim PD K-9, Cisko taught himself how to open up car doors with his nose. When it was time to go to work he would open up the rear car door himself and jump in.
Now he’ll be spending some well-earned time lounging around and chewing on his favorite toy: a red rubber Kong bone.
