Monroe K-9 Officer Ciro retires to live out his life in the home of his handler

Monroe Police Department K-9 officer Ciro (Retired) was officially turned over to his handler, Sgt. Ryan Gee at the September 2025 City Council meeting to go and live out the remainder of his life with the family. Photo credit: Monroe Police Department

Ciro, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois who served as a Monroe Police Department ca- nine since 2018, was retired at the Sept. 9 council meeting due to age and health concerns. He was presented to his handler, Sgt. Ryan Gee, to live out the remainder of his days with Gee and his family.

Ciro’s impressive career in local law enforcement included involvement in 42 felony drug arrests, successful tracking of a missing child, the discovery of numerous illegal firearms, and involvement in hundreds of traffic stops. Beyond his work with the Monroe Police Department, Ciro’s career included assisting the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Marshals Service,and other police agencies.

Ciro has lived with Gee and his family during his time with the Monroe Police Department, and Gee was on hand to take him home following the announcement of his retirement.

Later in the meeting, the council took the formal and legally required step of declaring Ciro “surplus personal property” of the city in order to transfer ownership to Gee. City Attorney Paul Rosenthal, mindful of the matter-of-fact declaration of Ciro as surplus city property, took a moment to note prior to the council vote that the declaration “certainly doesn’t diminish his value in any way, shape or form.”

“That is a beautiful dog,” Mayor John Howard said after the council vote. “I’m glad Ryan is going to get to keep him.”