MANSFIELD — It was an arrest Mansfield police officer Jacob Rietschlin and his K-9 partner Mekel will never forget.
The officer and his Czech German Shepherd partner responded to a case involving a man threatening to kill others and also himself.
The duo found the suspect lying perfectly still under a blanket, likely hoping to remain undiscovered.
As Rietschlin pulled the blanket off, he commanded Mekel to apprehend the suspect.
The brawny K-9 “bravely and enthusiastically” attacked — the blanket.
The suspect — no doubt thanking his lucky stars Mekel made the choice he did — wisely surrendered.
That story was retold to laughter on Wednesday evening as Mansfield City Council honored Mekel upon his retirement from the MPD after six years of service.
Mekel, who made his public debut in 2019 during a bite demonstration that unfortunately injured then-Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker, barked his approval in council chambers.
“(Retiring Mekel) is by far one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my career,” an emotional Rietschlin said.
“I’m telling you, when you get into a situation, these dogs make you feel 10-feet tall and bulletproof, you know what I am saying?
“You could have one of the worst days in the world … (but) you got your pup behind you. He has your back,” Rietschlin said.
Mekel, whose official retirement date was Oct. 16, joined the department in February 2019 when he was just a year-and-a-half old. He understands commands in Czech.
Rietschlin said one of Mekel’s greatest strengths was his tracking ability, successfully tracking and locating at least nine suspects who fled from police. Two of those cases involved tracking distances of 1.3 and 1.4 miles, he said.
Mekel did more than track and locate criminals. During his career, he found four missing children and two elderly people who had wandered off.
Mekel made four official apprehensions during his tenure: one breaking-and-entering suspect, a burglary suspect, a domestic violence suspect and one individual who was suffering mental illness and was possibly armed.
Mekel also worked drug cases, searching vehicles and clothing, helping in one case that put a suspected drug dealer in jail.
Rietschlin thanked his K-9 training officers, including Det. Korey Kaufman, as well as his wife and children for their assistance in caring for — and even helping in the off-duty training — of Mekel.
He mainly wanted to thank Mekel, who lay on the council chambers carpet at his feet.
“I’m a big man, OK? I’m rather large. So guys are always thinking about running from me. I’d jump out of the car and say, ‘You run, I’m going to unleash my dog on you.’ A lot of times, they back up.
“They don’t want to give up, (but) they don’t want to get bit,” he said, glancing at police Chief Jason Bammann sitting nearby.
“Get 10 more dogs,” he said with a laugh.
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(Watch the Wednesday evening meeting of Mansfield City Council.)