Charlotte County, FL – December 12, 2022
K-9 Titus was born on September 11, 2009, and started his career in November of 2010 with Sgt. Bill Maymon until his promotion in 2013. After Bill’s promotion, Titus was partnered with new K-9 Handler DFC Ron Chandler III.
DFC Ron Chandler III and Titus were certified as a K-9 Team and worked their first official shift together on August 5, 2013. From August 2013 to May 2018 DFC Ron Chandler III and K-9 Titus worked in the capacity of K-9 and Street Crimes. K-9 Titus conducted hundreds of narcotics sniffs during his career taking what would amount to pounds of narcotics off the streets. Titus’s drive to search and find illegal narcotics earned him the nickname in Street Crimes of “O.G.” for being near 100% in alert-to-find ratio and the last standing full-blood German Shepard in the K9 Unit.
Titus was deployed several times in foot pursuits with the fleeing subjects often giving up when they saw his large black wolf-like frame approaching. K-9 Titus demonstrated outstanding obedience never once failing to recall in real-life situations to avoid unnecessary physical apprehension. Titus’s only physical apprehension occurred on a domestic disturbance call where he protected his handler, DFC Ron Chandler III, during a physical altercation with an intoxicated suspect who had attempted to gouge his handler’s eye out.
In March 2015 DFC Ron Chandler III and K-9 Titus got the opportunity to compete in the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) regional field trials alongside DFC Sean Franko and his partner K-9 Azor. The competition judged a Patrol Dog’s obedience, physical apprehension and recall, agility, and searching abilities. K-9 Titus and DFC Ron Chandler III worked diligently as a K-9 Team and ultimately, alongside DFC Franko and K-9 Azor, brought back 2nd place in 2-man department teams for Region 1.
On April 24th, 2018, 15 K-9 Teams from Punta Gorda Police Department, North Port Police Department, and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office held a mini-regional competition for their annual drug detector certification through the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA). Out of a possible perfect score of 200, K-9 Titus and DFC Ron Chandler III took second overall with a score of 197.33.
On May 7, 2018, K-9 Titus ended his career as a K-9 Deputy for Charlotte County signing off the radio with one last bark and beginning his new life as a retired house dog. Over his 4 years as a retired house dog, Titus loved his family immensely sharing food with his children, lounging on the couch, stealing steaks, and never leaving his handler’s side. Titus continued to play hard and would often jump the fence when his handler would leave for work attempting to jump in the car, apparently eager to get back to work (as retired cops often are).
On December 5, 2022, after a short battle with illness, Titus was laid to rest leaving behind his family and K-9 partner. Titus will forever be remembered as the goofy, loving dog he was, so full of life and drive, eager to work, unwaveringly loyal, and courageous in everything he did.
“Even prior to becoming Sheriff, I fondly remember K-9 Titus and his drive to protect and serve,” says Sheriff Bill Prummell. My heart goes out to both Deputy Chandler and his family. His loyal service will be remembered and missed by not only the Chandler family, and by all of us at CCSO,” he adds.
K-9 Titus September 11, 2009 – December 5, 2022
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