Retired Marietta officer gets to buy his K-9 partner for $1

Associated Press

MARIETTA, Ohio

A recently retired Ohio police officer will get to keep his K-9 partner after all.

Officials in Marietta created a social media stir when they said Matt Hickey’s police dog, Ajax, had to be sold at auction because Ajax was city property and could still work. The pair worked together for three years, and the dog lived with Hickey.

On Thursday Hickey was allowed to buy Ajax from the southeastern Ohio city for $1.

Earlier this week, the city said it would allow Hickey to keep the dog if Hickey continued to work for the department on a volunteer basis after his retirement. Hickey refused, noting that he retired in January out of health concerns.

Hickey says he is “speechless and very grateful” that he gets to keep Ajax.