There is good news and sad news...

There is good news and sad news on the police canine front in Palos Verdes Estates.

First the good news.

Bandit, a 5-year-old German shepherd who joined the city’s police force about two years ago, pranced away last month with top honors at a statewide contest for police dogs.

The meet, held in Sacramento and dubbed the Canine Police Olympics, pitted Bandit against 61 other dogs. Bandit scaled fences, crawled through tunnels, apprehended a make-believe suspect and performed a myriad of other stunts expected of police dogs on his way to earning gold, silver and bronze medals.

His overall performance netted him “Top Dog” honors.

“He is just a real big, friendly dog, basically,” said Officer Joe Hall, Bandit’s handler. “He likes cats and kids.”

Bandit, who has been Hall’s companion for three years, received a special treat soon after he was crowned. “He got a steak, part of my steak, the night we celebrated,” Hall said.

Now the sad news.

Dolf, the department’s other dog, has cancer. His handler, Officer Jim Kronberger, said Dolf, 11, was retired from the force in May after more than eight years of service. The dog will probably be put to sleep.

Police Chief Gary Johansen had praise for Dolf’s years of loyal service to the department, saying that during his career he helped officers make numerous arrests.

Kronberger offered even higher praise. As he put it, Dolf didn’t take his work home with him. “He was nasty at work and very friendly at home,” Kronberger said.

Whether Dolf will be replaced is uncertain. Johansen said he isn’t sure the department needs two dogs. A trained police dog costs between $5,000 and $8,000, he said.

But both Hall and Kronberger are hoping Bandit will get a new dog partner. Indeed, Bandit first came to the department after residents chipped in and raised the money to acquire him.

That occurred after Hall’s previous dog, Falk, suffered a sudden heart attack in 1987. Attempts by Hall to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation were unsuccessful.

“I looked at Falk as a family member, best friend and a partner all rolled into one,” Hall said.

Bandit now fills those roles.