COLUMBUS, Ind. – Lawbreakers take notice. A familiar name is back on the beat and again patrolling the streets of Columbus. The Columbus Police Department (CPD) officially introduced its newest police canine, “Cleon,” on Thursday at CPD headquarters.
K-9 Cleon, an 18-month-old German Shepherd, is named in honor of former Columbus police officer Cleon Sweeney, a 36-year veteran who served from 1954-1990. Sweeney passed away in July 2015.
The newest police dog and his partner, Officer John Busack Jr., recently returned from several weeks of training in Michigan. Busack stated, “Being selected as a canine officer is one of the most fulfilling things in my life. What these dogs are capable of doing and understanding is astonishing. K-9 Cleon and I are building a strong bond and I love working with him.”
Stacy Sweeney, one of Cleon Sweeney’s children said, “Dad was always proud that he spent his life’s work as an officer on the Columbus Police Department. The fact that CPD chose to memorialize him in this manner means more to our family than words can express. Thank you for remembering him.”
Officer Busack and K-9 Cleon are assigned to the afternoon shift and work in coordination with CPD’s other handlers and canines, Officer Marcus Clark/K-9 Bane and Officer Branch Schrader/K-9 Argo.
