Warner Robins Council honors fallen canine, makes code advisory board

WARNER ROBINS — The city of Warner Robins led a heartfelt tribute to a valued member of the police department and made strides in code enforcement at its most recent meeting on May 19.

K9 Argo, who was scheduled to retire on Monday, sadly died a few days prior, changing his planned recognition to a memorial.

Investigator Jason Lamberth, Argo’s handler, was surrounded by police and city leaders as they presented him with a plaque, framed photo and condolences.

Lamberth first thanked God for bringing him and Argo together, thanked Police Chief Wayne Fisher for entrusting him as his handler, and thanked his family, the police department, council and citizens for their support. 

“God knew the situations over the past almost nine years that I would face and He gave me Argo to help keep me safe,” Lamberth said.

According to Lamberth, Argo was a people-loving dog who enjoyed being vocal and the center of attention.

“He never met a stranger. People were afraid of him because he loved to bark. He loved to be known. He loved that everybody knew he was there,” Lamberth said.

Argo, a dog breed known for challenges in tracking, demonstrated exceptional dedication when called to Quail Run Elementary School to locate a child missing for several hours. Lamberth recalled how Argo successfully tracked the child from a backpack’s scent, following the trail into the woods.

“It’s moments, memories like that that will stick with me for a lifetime above anything else that he’s ever done,” Lamberth said.

Argo loved his job and serving citizens, Lamberth mentioned. He saw Argo’s dedication behind closed doors and appreciated sharing his softer side with the public.

“The only person in that car that loved to come to work more than me was him,” Lamberth said emotionally. “And he’d let me do it every day. Every day, he would run to that door and you could see the smile on his face. You could see the joy that it brought to him to come to work each and every day. That’s the side of our police canines that people don’t get to see.”

Speaking more on his loving nature, Lamberth said God’s top commandment, to love one another, definitely applied to Argo.

“He set the example of what true love was. He loved me. He loved my wife. He loved people. He loved kids, being around kids. He loved whoever he came in contact with, truly loved them,” Lamberth said.

In the agenda, council approved an ordinance to establish a code enforcement board, previously discussed at the city’s strategic planning retreat in February. According to council documents, this seven-member board will function as a semi-judicial body, offering a more informal method for resolving code violations. The board will have the authority to issue fines and noncriminal penalties, a change from the previous process where such violations were handled in Municipal Court.

Council approved all other agenda items. Council also recognized supervisor Greg Langston, who retired from the city’s Animal Control department, and Public Works Week.

A full livestream of the meeting can be found on the city’s Facebook page: “City of Warner Robins Government.” Supporting documents from the meeting can be found on the city’s website.

The next Warner Robins City Council meeting will take place Monday, July 7, at City Hall, located at 700 Watson Boulevard. Pre-council will start at 4:30 p.m.; Council meeting will follow immediately.