Dunbar City Council voted unanimously Monday night to officially retire police K9 officer, Kratos, and transfer his ownership to his handler, city police Lt. Michael Lester.
"We were overwhelmed with excitement when we finally heard he was going to be - he's always been part of the family - but officially now," Lester said. "The attachment between him and I is huge."
Dunbar sold Kratos to Lester for an undisclosed price.
"[Kratos] is a one person dog," Dunbar Mayor Terry Greenlee said. "No one else could handle him. Common sense tells you to leave the dog with its handler."
Lester and Kratos' journey together started in 2011 at the Kanawha County Sheriff Office's training. The two went through a 14-week training course where Kratos learned how to help Lester and other officers detect marijuana, cocaine, heroin, opioids and other pills.
Kratos also is trained in officer safety protection and tracking. Kratos is credited with two successful tracks.
The pair are responsible for the confiscation of $10,000 in drugs and seized money associated with drugs in a five-year period.
"Narcotics is defiantly where he shined," Lester said.
Dunbar Police Chief Jesse Bailes said it is sad to see Kratos go, but it is a positive.
"[Kratos] has earned it, and it is time for him to enjoy his retirement," Bailes said.
Lester is looking forward to coming home to Kratos.
"I'll miss being out with him everyday," Lester said. "But through this [retirement], I believe he is going to have a longer life."
Also on Monday, council approved Jodie Jividen to the Dunbar Planning and Zoning Board.
Jividen will serve a three-year term, replacing Bill Brown effective immediately.
"I just love Dunbar, " Jividen said. "It's my adopted home."
She told the crowd when she first moved to Dunbar she did not know many people. But now that's not the case.
Greenlee administered Jividen's service oath in front of council and citizens attending.
"I don't think we could have found anyone better to fill the vacancy," Greenlee said.
Council approved outsourcing its summer grass cutting duties to Hurricane-based Accucut.
"We are doing everything we can to help the city in its reduction of expenditures," Greenlee said.
Last summer was the first year the city outsourced the task, saving roughly $20,000, Greenlee said.
The city will pay the same rate - $35,312.90 - as it did last year for the services.
In other business, council:
n Appointed Fred McPherson as the Dunbar Police Department's Police Civil Commissioner for a three-year term - McPherson will be sworn in at a later date.
n Approved increasing school crossing guard pay to $10 per hour and compensation when school closes for emergency.
n Approved starting to accept bids for a new roof for the police department building.
n Approved Feb. 16 meeting minutes.