City of Fond du Lac Police K9 "Grendel" to retire in April

FOND DU LAC (WITI) -- After eight years of service to the City of Fond du Lac, Police K9 “Grendel” will be retiring on April 8th. K9 Grendel has been partnered with his K9 Handler, Officer Ryan Williams, since April 1st, 2006.

K9 Grendel, who originated from Budapest, Hungary, worked his career as a dual purpose K9; specializing in the detection of narcotics and in finding people. Grendel was also trained in handler protection and the apprehension of suspects.

K9 Grendel and Officer Ryan Williams have had a remarkable career working as partners in the service and protection of the City of Fond du Lac; a career that includes a number of commendations, significant apprehensions and arrests, the seizures of illegal drugs and, of course, their inspirational fight to survive and return to work as an Officer/K9 team after both were shot and critically injured during the attempted arrest of a sexual assault suspect in March of 2011.

A few of the noteworthy accomplishments by the team of Officer Williams/K9 Grendel include:


    Following Officer Williams’ and K9 Grendel’s return to duty from their injuries, they have worked very effectively as a team, providing the City of Fond du Lac Police Department with a number of additional drug searches and subject tracks. Officer Ryan Williams has said of his partner, “K9 Grendel still has the will to work, but his body is telling him it's time to slow down. Grendel has decided to step down and let another dog get a chance to take a bite out of crime.”

    The City of Fond du Lac Police Department and Chief Bill Lamb released a statement saying: Every member of the City of Fond du Lac Police Department feels very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside Officer Ryan Williams and his partner, K9 Grendel. They have obviously been a remarkable K9 team and have served the department and our community with extraordinary distinction. Their arrests, seizures, and apprehensions have, in and of themselves, made for an excellent career together. Most significantly, their demonstration of strength and commitment provided literally tens of thousands across our community and the nation with the inspiration to train harder, maintain a positive attitude, and never give up – and we are all better people and police officers through what they have taught us. We will miss K9 Grendel and his service to our department, but we obviously wish him well in his well-deserved retirement from the rigors of daily service as a police K9. Thank you, Officer Williams and K9 Grendel, for eight years of outstanding service to our community and the law enforcement profession.

    K9 Grendel’s retirement will be made official at a ceremony to be held at the City of Fond du Lac Police Department on Tuesday, April 8th. The program will begin at 2 p.m. Members of the community are invited to stop by to say thank you and farewell to K9 Grendel.

    Additionally, K9 Grendel’s service to the community and retirement will be recognized by the Fond du Lac City Council at its meeting on April 9th.