Groton Police K-9 Saber Retires After 8 Years Of Service

GROTON, CT — K-9 Saber, a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois, has retired from the Town of Groton Police Department, according to a police statement. His last day of duty was Feb. 28. K-9 Saber served the community alongside his handler, Officer Ryan Brouwer.

K-9 Saber joined the department in March 2018 after completing training in patrol and narcotics detection.

During his time with Brouwer, K-9 Saber was deployed 248 times. These deployments included 82 narcotics-related searches, 23 building searches, 44 tracking operations, and 19 evidence searches. He assisted in locating missing persons, pursuing fleeing suspects, and recovering drugs and discarded evidence.

Saber and Brouwer received a K-9 Commendation Medal in December 2021. They pair tracked a domestic violence suspect wanted on multiple warrants into a wooded area, and Saber found the suspect, who was taken into custody.

Following his retirement, Saber will remain Officer Brouwer and his family. He will transition from a working K-9 to a full-time companion.

Police Chief L.J. Fusaro Jr. commented on Saber's service.

"The K-9 program requires an exceptional level of commitment from both the dog and the handler," Fusaro said in a statement. "Saber has been a loyal partner and an important resource for our officers and the residents we serve. We are grateful for his years of dedicated work and wish him a long, healthy retirement."

The Town of Groton Police Department maintains three K-9 teams. Each team undergoes specialized training and ongoing certification.