MANSFIELD — Mansfield Police Officer Stephen Hornback is bidding adieu to the Mansfield PD after nearly two decades of service.
His last day with the department is March 3.
“We’re excited for him, but we also hate to lose such a good officer,” said Police Chief Ken Coontz during a retirement ceremony Thursday.
Hornback was appointed to the Mansfield Division of Police and assigned to the patrol bureau on Sept. 21, 1998.
Prior to joining the force, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a C-130 Aircraft Crew Chief in 1987. Upon Honorable Discharge, he worked for the State of Ohio Industrial Commission as a claims examiner from 1990 to 1998.
In 2007, he joined the K9 Unit with K9 Astor, where he spent over half of his career. The duo received eight trophies in various events related to patrol work. In 2012, they competed in the United States Police Canine Association National Event in Punta Gorda, Florida where 110 dogs competed, and K9 Astor received a Certification in Excellence Award.
Coontz thanked Hornback for his dedication to the K9 Unit.
“To run a K9 Unit is extremely difficult,” Coontz said. “There are a lot of moving parts. When you’re working with animals, they don’t always do what you want them to do when you want them to do it.
“Steve was a godsend for the K9 Unit. I relied on Steve so heavily just to do the day-to-day operations out there.”
Hornback obtained his K9 trainers certificate in 2013. He also completed the K9 Evaluators course to assess and certify K9s for Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, and now he certifies K9s statewide for their annual certifications. In 2014, he was recognized as the K9 trainer for the City of Mansfield and was voted as the vice president for USPCA Region 5 — he’s remained in both positions.
“I know his passion was with K9,” said Assistant Chief Keith Porch. “He never wanted to take the opportunity of an advancement — he thought having that dog was his advancement and took that with the utmost seriousness.”
In 2016, Hornback was given the opportunity to train a K9 class for the City of Mansfield that included the department’s two new K9s, along with the K9 from Mt. Gilead PD. That same year he took Mansfield PD’s K9 Xaro to USPCA and certified him in tracking at the regional level. He also finished his apprenticeship for judging K9s attempting to certify for USPCA.
Coontz noted that Hornback put his own money into the K9 program and funded out-of-state trips multiple times.
“That just tells you the kind of passion that he had,” Coontz said.
Currently, Hornback judges for USPCA and has judged events in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Washington D.C.
“We appreciate all that you’ve done for this department,” the chief said. “You’ve made the department better since you’ve been here.”
Hornback plans to stay active with the training of police K9s, judge K9s for USPCA, and certify police K9s for OPOTA during retirement.
With K9 Xaro by his side, Hornback said this has been the best job he’s ever had.
“To be able to spend 10 years in K9–over half my career–is just a dream I never thought I’d be able to do,” he said. “And to be able to retire and take my partner with me.
“It’s been a dream. I wouldn’t change anything.”
