Marine Cpl. William Moran is reunited with retired Chattanooga K-9 Doodle. A Chattanooga police dog whose first career as a Marine dog included three tours in Afghanistan was reunited with his military handler Saturday upon his retirement from police work.
Doodle, a 9-year-old black Labrador, and Marine Cpl. William Moran met at the Police Services Center on Amnicola Highway. A police photo shows the dog, on his hind legs, in a close embrace with his Marine buddy.
Moran was the explosives-detection dog’s handler on his second Afghanistan deployment from Oct. 31, 2010, to June 11, 2011. Doodle also was in-country from October 2009 to May 2010, and January-July 2012, according to the police news release. During his deployments he came close to at least two improvised explosive device blasts and was credited with several IED finds, the release said.
After joining the Chattanooga Police Department in December 2012 he served with two handlers, Sgt. Mike Joiner and Officer Lucas Timmons until his retirement. in January As a K-9 cop, Doodle conducted numerous sweeps of the Chattanooga Airport, Riverbend Festival site and other sensitive locations. Doodle also has helped find numerous firearms and related evidence, police said.
“The loyalty you feel from a K9 like Doodle is uncomparable,” Police Chief Fred Fletcher said. “He has been a partner and a protector to our country and our community.”