Shadow Retires from Police Duty

Shadow poses with his handler, Officer Jason Posel.

Shadow, one of the first two canines for the city, retired to the living room couch in 2007.

He had to leave the Woodbury Police force due to health issues. Today, he enjoys living with officer Jason Posel, his previous handler, and taking life a bit slower.

“Shadow is well-adjusted to retired life,” Posel said. “He spends his day being a regular dog, running after the cat, chewing on stuff, and sleeping.”

Shadow also enjoys taking frequent walks and running around with neighborhood dogs.

“He loves to ride in the car too,” Posel said. “I think that’s what he misses the most.”

Posel added Shadow was a reliable, working dog who loved his job.

Shadow helped Woodbury Police Officers make several good catches. Late one night, at 1 a.m., officers responded to a burglary in progress at a home.

“When we arrived at the scene, we learned that a suspect had broken in to a residence, taken several items, assaulted the homeowner who happened to come home during the burglary, and then ran off on foot. When officers arrived, the suspect was located near another home.

I took Shadow out and started towards the last location that he had been spotted. I watched the suspect run out into a commons area and towards some nearby woods. I ordered the suspect to stop but he continued to run towards the woods. I sent Shadow to apprehend the suspect. Shadow went in to the woods after the suspect.

A short time later I heard the suspect yelling, “Get this dog off me.” When I came up to the suspect I saw he was laying on the ground and Shadow had apprehended him by biting his leg.

We later learned that the suspect was on probation for 1st degree criminal sexual assault and tried to run away because he did not want to go back to prison. Without help from Shadow this would have been a difficult arrest.”

Posel said that Shadow enjoyed work so much that some days he whines, hoping to go to work with Posel.

“Shadow had a great career,” Posel said.

Shadow was one of three dogs to be certified in advanced canine training. He was part of the Washington County Special Response Team and helped the team in emergency situations.

He graduated from Ramsey County’s canine training program in May 2002 and worked with Posel for five years on the police force.

During his time with the department, Shadow helped with numerous suspect and narcotic finds.

Shadow helped the Police Department by searching for lost persons, apprehending fleeing suspects, providing crowd control, locating lost articles or hidden evidence and protecting his partner. He was also trained in narcotics.