MASON, Mich. (WLNS) – Mason K-9 Officer Tamarac will not be reunited with her former partner.
That was the decision made by the Mason City Council Monday night after a contentious meeting.
The vote came weeks after K-9 handler and Mason Police Officer Hayden Wildfong resigned from his position. He was under investigation after he left his gun and utility belt unattended in the weight room at Mason High School. His presence at the school while on duty was also a potential violation of city policies.
Wildfong, in an email to the City Council obtained by 6 News, acknowledged his mistake and said he resigned rather than be fired.
However, his resignation put the future of Tamarac and the city's K-9 program up in the air. An internal flyer was conducted for officers interested in partnering with Tamarack, but that ended on January 28 without any officers coming forward to take on Tamarack.
City officials say they are trying to place Tamarack with another law enforcement agency, noting that a veterinarian gave her a clean bill of health and indicated she could work for another three or four years.
In his email, Wilfong implored the council to sell him the highly-trained dog.
“She is a very intelligent animal with emotions and feelings,” Wildfong wrote in his email to the City Council. “She is completely lost without me. I am begging for your help.”
He explained the dog's history of the body as well.
“Tamarack was rescued from a hoarding situation, placed in a kennel, and finally given to her forever person in her forever home (at least I think),” he wrote.
“Tam was trained by me, and she loves working with me. The city manager doesn’t know what is best for Tam,” Wildfong told the council. “Tam is not just a used tool that can be given to someone else. “This is a lifelong bond that takes years to develop.”
Other members of law enforcement as well as Mason residents took to the stage to encourage council members to reunite the two partners.
Eventually, Mason City Councilwoman Rita Vogel introduced a motion to remove Tamarack from city ownership and sell it to Wildfong. Councilman Jerry Schaefer seconded the motion and offered an amendment requiring the dog to be sold at a “reasonable price.” The amendment failed, as did the proposal itself. Only Vogel and Schiffer voted to unite the duo.
After voting, the public expressed their disagreement with the decision.
“He lost his position,” Schaefer says of his decision regarding Wildfong and Tamarack. “He made a mistake – a terrible mistake – and he's paying the price for it. He lost his job. There's no use kicking a man when he wants his dog back.”
Mayor Russell Whipple says Tamarack's hiring process should end, but in the meantime, he says Wildfong knew the impact of the resignation.
“He knew this was going to happen when he resigned,” Whipple says. “He's going to lose the privilege of being that dog's handler. That's what's happening and now the city is looking for the best use for that animal.”
As for the unsecured gun incident, the investigation ended due to Wildfong's resignation, according to city leaders. A Facebook post on a Mason City government page shows Wildfong was sworn into office in 2019.
The Mason Police Chief created a corrective action plan on Jan. 22, city officials said.
At the meeting, City Manager Deborah Stewart said officers are not allowed on the school property unless it is for official city business, which does not include exercise. Wildfong said he had permission to work at the high school in his email to the City Council.
The gun safe in the building is designated only for the school resource officer, Stewart said.
“There is no need for a safe for any other officers because they don't have to remove their weapon,” the city manager said.
Wildfong declined to comment after the city council meeting. The next meeting is scheduled to be held on February 19y The city manager is expected to share more information about agencies interested in having K-9 Tamarack on their force.
