NEW K9 TEAM … Patrolman Brian Robinson and his K9 partner, Bane, are very happy to have joined the Bryan, Ohio Police Department. Coming off their third shift schedule just a few minutes before this picture was taken, they both looked ready to go home and get some down time. Actually, Robinson said that Bane is always excited about working and would do it 24/7 if there was the need! (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
K9 Bane seems happy to be back with his handler Patrolman Brian Robinson, whom he worked with in Deshler, Ohio, and Brian is definitely happy to be rejoined with Bane.
Life is full of changes and leaving Bane was the hardest change for officer Robinson when he made the choice to leave his position as Deshler Chief of Police and move to Bryan, Ohio.
“I kept putting the move off,” Robinson said, “because i didn’t want to leave Bane.”
He had started dating a girl in Bryan and had gotten very involved with Grace Community Church, “and it felt like everything was just moving over this way.”
“Leaving Bane, who had to then live in a kennel because Deshler doesn’t have another handler, was so hard, but I did it… and now we are back together!”
Officer Robinson, who joined the Bryan PD on August 15 of this year, was born and raised in Deshler, which is about 50 miles from Bryan.
He is a 2006 graduate of Northwest State Community College in the law enforcement program, and began his career working as a Special Deputy in the sheriff’s Department.
In 2011, he began with a part-time position in Deshler, moving to full-time in 2014.
Between 2014 and 2018 he was promoted to sergeant and was joined by his first dog, Zeus, who passed away with medical issues in 2020.
Robinson stepped into the position of chief in 2018, and Bane joined him in 2021.
When asked if he minded going from the police chief in one town to a patrolman in another he replied,
“Absolutely not. I didn’t mind leaving the position of chief as I didn’t like being stuck in the office.”
“I prefer being on the road and being a patrolman. Everything has worked out great!”
He added that he likes being busier as the pace in Deshler is much slower as it is a smaller town.
He likes staying active here and feels like it is a good fit, and even better now that Bane has joined the force.
He also feels very welcome here in Bryan, Ohio. He likes the accessibility of restaurants, Walmart, local stores and obviously his church, and the friends he is making.
When Robinson moved to Bryan, he did not have a position with the police department.
He found a place to live, got plugged in more with his church and sent out his resume to a few departments including Bryan.
No one was hiring at the time so he kept driving the 50 miles one way each day.
One day he saw on Facebook that Bryan PD was hiring and he applied for the position.
During the hiring process he mentioned to Chief Greg Ruskey that he is a handler and that he had left his partner in Deshler.
“It didn’t look like they needed another K9 officer as they already have Officer Matt Sammons and K9 Tyson,” Robinson said, “but after thinking about how it could save the city and the department quite a bit of money to re-connect the two, Ruskey pitched it to city council.”
“Since I was already hired and certified as a handler, it would save the city a lot of time and money.”
“Deshler had put Bane up for bid and it made sense to bring him to the only handler he’s worked with.”
“That really helped everything. The city of Bryan bought him by bid.”
On October 19, 2022, Bryan PD posted on their Facebook page, “K9 Bane joined the force with his former handler Patrolman Brian Robinson who transferred from Deshler PD.”
“Bane is a Belgian Malinois and has been reinstated with his handler.”
Bane will be four years old in March 2023. The team is back together again.
Robinson said that Bane is happy and loves being back on the job and he is thrilled to get his partner out of the kennel and back at work with him.
Bane has already helped with a few narcotics searches at traffic stops and is trained in officer protection, tracking, and article searches like finding a weapon or other item.
He can also do building and area searches for people.
K9 Bane was trained by Al Gill at Von der Haus Gill German Shepherds, Inc. in Wapakoneta.
When asked why his name is Bane, Robinson said that he named him that because he thinks it would be fun to get him a muzzle that is painted to look like Bane’s mask on Batman.
On October 21st, Town & Country posted on Facebook that they are honored to add Bane and his handler, Brian Robinson, to their sponsorship.
They already sponsor K9 Handler Matt Sammons and his partner Tyson as well as Edgerton, Ohio Police Chief Gary Plotts and his K9 Partner Jaxx.
So, welcome to Williams County, Officer Brian Robinson and K9 Bane! Thank you for your service.
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com