Optimus reports for last shift
The decorated officer will now spend his days in the care of his partner of 10 years.
After a decade of loyal service and about 1 300 operations under his collar, Optimus, Benoni’s K9 Search and Rescue ‘officer’, is wagging his tail into retirement.
Gifted to his handler, SAPS Ekurhuleni Water Police and Diving Services (WPDS) member Warrant Officer Martin Bann, in 2015, the astute Belgian German shepherd-cross showed immense potential to serve in the division.
Sniffing through the paperwork, Bann quickly got the ball rolling to donate the canine to the SAPS, requesting he be assigned to his duty.
Deployed across SA, Zimbabwe and Türkiye, this dynamic duo became a formidable force.
Last year, Optimus became one of only a few police members to receive a commendation bravery medal for recovering a murder victim’s body thrown into a river in 2016.
“This is a medal not often bestowed upon members, let alone to a dog,” said WPDS spokesperson Warrant Officer Grant Giblin.
On April 1, Optimus’ illustrious career came to an end.
With a pat on the head and cheers of “Good boy”, Optimus is enjoying a dog’s life at his handler’s home.
“Optimus is by far the best canine partner I have had the privilege to work with,” said Bann, watching the hound inspect the lawnmower with great suspicion.
“He is highly intuitive and intelligent. He worked meticulously. It was as if he understood how important it was to bring closure to those waiting to find a loved one.”
While reviewing some of their assignments, Bann noted that despite not every recovery ending positively, each was significant.
“One of the most memorable rescues was that of a 90-year-old woman trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building after the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquakes that hit Türkiye and Syria in February 2023,” said Bann.
“She had been trapped for eight days. This was the biggest operation of our career, and we formed part of a global search and rescue effort. Things were chaotic, and survivors were desperately pleading with us to assist in locating their loved ones.
“Optimus and I were doing yet another sweep of the area when he started giving tells.”
Trusting his partner’s keen sense of smell, Bann flagged rescue teams, who rescued the elderly woman.
“Türkiye certainly stands out. It was an emotionally fuelled operation in extreme weather conditions, and time was of the essence,” he said.
“I think our bond just grew stronger during this time, spending hours holding onto hope and then curling up next to each other to catch a couple of hours of sleep.”
Again, watching his partner investigate another part of his new home, Bann said Optimus is steadily settling into retirement.
“All he knows is work. He still needs tons of stimulation throughout the day but has already identified the perfect sunny napping spot,” he said.
“When I come home, he greets me like a puppy and then stretches out in front of the TV like an old man.”
Laughing, Bann said the former ‘officer’ is weary of the family’s pugs.
“I do not know whether it is their laboured breathing or short snouts, but he steers clear of them at all times,” he said.
Although the Bann/Optimus partnership has ended, work as a WPDS member is never done.
Bann is already training a new partner and hopes the recruit will be as impactful as his predecessor.
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