Wisconsin DOT announces retirement of K-9 "Charlie"

WISCONSIN (WITI) -- K-9 Charlie, who began service with the Wisconsin State Patrol in 2006, has retired from law enforcement activities. Charlie was one of the five original members of the Wisconsin State Patrol K-9 Program.

K-9 Charlie

During his career, Charlie partnered with Inspector Brian Wiginton and most recently with Trooper Chris Lohman of the Southeast Region — Waukesha Post. While assigned by the State Patrol to the Milwaukee High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), Charlie and Trooper Lohman assisted in numerous narcotics seizures. Charlie was instrumental in approximately 1,500 searches resulting in 387 drug-related seizures during the course of his career.

In May, a cancerous tumor was found on Charlie’s left front leg. The tumor was removed but reappeared recently. To prevent the spread of cancer, Charlie’s left front leg was amputated at the shoulder. On the advice of Charlie’s veterinarian and master K-9 trainers, the State Patrol decided to retire him from law enforcement duties.

Trooper Lohman reports that Charlie is recovering well from the surgery and is beginning to return to his previous activities. The State Patrol has granted Trooper Lohman’s request that he take ownership of Charlie and continue to care for him.

State Patrol Major J.D. Lind, director of the Bureau of Public Safety and Communications, said, “On behalf of the State Patrol and the citizens we serve, I want to thank Charlie for his outstanding contribution to our K-9 program and to Trooper Lohman for his dedicated work with and care for Charlie.”