St. Francis K-9 Bane honored with medal for distinguished service

 

ST. FRANCIS, Wis. (CBS 58) --- K-9 Officer Bane may be retired, but he's still a beloved member of the St. Francis Police Department. On Wednesday, Dec. 13, he was honored with a medal for bravery and distinguished service.

"He's not just a dog. He's my partner," said Detective Holly McManus.

K-9 Bane's impact goes back years. He was the first K-9 officer in St. Francis back in 2014 and has responded to hundreds of calls.

"Bane is directly responsible for leading to the arrest of over 200 offenders," said Robin Hutton, president at Animals in War & Peace.

After years of fighting crime, K-9 Bane is now fighting for his life.

Bane has Degenerative Myelopathy. It's a nerve disorder similar to ALS in humans. "It'll work its way up and it'll eventually shut down all of his organs," said McManus.

The official ceremony for Bane's award will be held early next year in D.C., but Detective McManus said they wanted to honor him now as his health declines. "Bane's time now is measured in weeks," Detective McManus said.

K-9 Bane's legacy makes him a hometown hero. Not only has he served St. Francis, but also the FBI Milwaukee SWAT team, assisting in high-risk missions involving violent crime and domestic terrorism.

"This is finally a chapter that we can close and know that he's been a good boy and done his job well," said McManus.