The Ventnor Police Department has announced the passing of retired Police K-9 Axel #901 on Monday, Jan. 19.
K-9 Axel has lived with his handler, Capt. David Gaeckle, since his retirement from Ventnor’s K-9 Unit in November 2021, when budget considerations forced the department to disband its K-9 Unit. His partner, K-9 Joker, was also retired.
According to a release from the Police Department, Axel was an “exceptional” member of the department.
During his career, Axel was responsible for more than 130 cases, conducted 65 vehicle searches, was involved in 11 suspect surrenders, completed 24 tracks, assisted in six search warrant executions, and aided in the seizure of more than 325 grams of marijuana, 1,396 bags of heroin, 28.50 grams of methamphetamine, 4.21 ounces of cocaine and $16,770 in U.S. currency.
Axel, a Belgian Malinois, completed 28 weeks of intensive training and was certified in tracking, apprehension, article search, building search, and narcotics detection.
In their final year of service, Axel and Joker, and their handlers represented the Ventnor City Police Department at the USPCA National Detector Trials, where they competed against 52 nationally ranked K-9 teams from across the U.S., and took first place in the Teams Narcotics Competition. Gaeckle also placed ninth overall in the individual Narcotics Competition.
K-9 Axel also competed in the USPCA National Detector Dog Trials placing 11th overall in 2018, ninth overall in 2019 and 10th overall in 2021.
“We are grateful for Axel’s unwavering service, dedication and loyalty to the City of Ventnor and the Ventnor City Police Department,” police said. “His contributions to public safety and his legacy within our K-9 Unit will never be forgotten.”
In 2019, when then-Police Chief Doug Biagi disbanded the unit, he said that although former-Chief Michael Miller had high hopes for the newly created unit, it never materialized the way Miller envisioned. He said the types of crimes being committed in Ventnor did not warrant a K-9 Unit, which was repeatedly called out for mutual aid operations.
Biagi said the elimination of the K-9 Unit was a cost-cutting measure that would save on the annual cost of canine police training, eliminate veterinary costs, vaccinations and food for the two Belgian Malinois. Additionally, disbanding the unit would save on the cost of Workman’s Compensation claims when the dogs caused injuries to their handlers during the course of police work.
Ventnor K9 Officers Axel and Joker and their handlers, Lt. David Gaeckle and Sgt. Marc Franco Jr.
