Ingram said he was placed on light duty in November after receiving an injury. The change was only meant to last for a month, but in that time Pac-Man was taken by the department and moved to the Dunn Animal Shelter. Something that Dunn Police Chief Cary Jackson confirmed at the city council meeting. Although Jackson added that the German Shepherd is being visited by police staff and is being kept apart from other animals. But that answer isn't the outcome that Ingram wanted.
The officer is now changing agencies, but said that he asked that Pac-Man be retired when he leaves. He even offered to replace the older police dog and pointed out that Pac-Man had occasional joint pain and had been suffering from anxiety while in the shelter.
But the answer was no.
The Daily Mail reports that Jackson claimed Pac-Man couldn't go with Ingram because Ingram's injury prevented him from taking care of him. Ingram for his part claims that he believes Jackson's decision was retaliatory because he'd missed a department photoshoot with the pup.
Jackson told the news outlet. "Based on the restrictions that were issued on him by his physician, we made the decision to remove the handler from him, so he could make sure that he was receiving appropriate care."
"I was fully able to care for Pac-Man during this time," Ingram shot back. "It was not removed from my home for the reasons being portrayed to the public."
The police department has even gone as far as to say that they will bring Pac-Man back to work based on consultations "with our veterinarian and police trainers, canine trainers," he said. "It would be an injustice to K-9 Apacs to retire and not be able to do what he lives to do, which is work and provide a service to the City of Dunn."
The dispute has turned public. A petition has even been started to allow Pac-Man to retire and has moved both online and to the city council meeting last week. A new handler has been chosen for Pac-Man as well.
As for Ingram, he told told
WRAL that all he wants is to let his canine partner have a break after many years of service.
"I just want Pac-Man to come home and would be forever grateful if he could enter into retirement and enjoy the last few years that he may have left," he said.
