LEBANON, Pa. (WHTM) — Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello announced on Wednesday, Nov. 30, that a K-9 who has served nine years with the Lebanon City Police Department has retired.
According to Mayor Capello, K-9 Officer Apollo, partner to Patrol First Class Sean Buck, has retired. He was celebrated by his fellow officers and the community on Thursday.
To continue the work Apollo has done for the department, a check was presented on behalf of the William D. Lebo Memorial Foundation to help fund the K-9 department.
Lt. William Lebo was killed in the line of duty on March 31. After his death, his family created the foundation in his honor to help develop officer leadership and support Lebanon city.
Standing alongside Apollo was Lt. Lebo’s wife, Lora. Through community support and donations, the foundation was able to donate $18,000, giving back to the department that was there for her after her husband’s death.
“When I walked out of Lehigh to bring him home and saw that sea of blue, I literally fell to my knees with the overwhelming support,” Lora Lebo said. “Bill loved his community. He was a lifer. He grew up in North Lebanon, and he would want to do everything to support the community in any way that was possible.”
“I worked under the lieutenant, so to have the foundation that was founded because of him, that’s huge, you can’t get any closer to home that that happened,” said Buck.
“K9 Apollo and Private First Class Buck have attended numerous public events together in the City of Lebanon over the 9 years they have been partnered together. Officers utilize a K9’s greater sense of smell sight and speed for assisting in a multitude of police work,” Capello said. “The city commends Officer Buck and K9 Apollo for a successful and productive nine years of service together.”
Apollo will spend his retirement at home with Buck. The department hopes to get a new K-9 soon.