Midlothian K9 Vito ends watch

MIDLOTHIAN – There is nothing quite like a K9 team at a Police Department.

This past week, the Midlothian Police Department had to say goodbye to one half of their K9 team – Officer Vito. 

Vito was half Dutch Shepherd, half Belgian Malinois, and as his partner Officer Jacob Rittiman described, “Pure bred crazy. His energy was unmatched, but he was loyal and a hard worker who loved and lived for the job.”

The Midlothian PD said he “Faithfully served the citizens of Midlothian for five years, and lost his battle with a series of debilitating health issues.”

Vito was seven years old and had been Rittiman’s partner since he was 11 months old. 

“Once I was selected for the K9 position,” Rittiman explained, “the department and I received K9 Vito through a company called K9officers.org. 

“The company supplies agencies with working dogs that are specifically tested and vetted for police work.

“K9officers.org is an awesome company with truly good people who love K9 working dogs and their handlers.”

Rittiman could not tell me just one “most memorable” experience with his partner. Instead, he recounted all the drug busts and suspect apprehensions the two had made together.

“The most memorable and cherished memories were when we would hit little milestones during training or during our time off working together,” Rittiman added. 

“As funny as it sounds, the most memorable little milestone is when Vito let go of his ball on command for the first time. 

“This sounds simple to get a dog to do, but these dogs are bred to have high drive and a hard head while never giving up.”

Rittiman said it was something the K9 team had worked on in the beginning for a while and was difficult to achieve.

“I want to say,” Rittiman added, “Vito was an amazing K9 and an amazing partner. 

“We grew close. We spent every day at work together in the heat, in the snow, in the rain, during dark and slow nights and during high intensity situations where we did not know what the outcome was going to be.

“We entered plenty of heart thumping moments together, and Vito never strayed and never backed down from a challenge.”

Rittiman recounted his partner was always by his side and ready to go to work. Vito lived for the job and thrived under all conditions. 

“Though he was hardheaded and stubborn while constantly testing the waters with me, this made him the perfect K9 partner,” Rittiman said. “His energy never dwindled, his toughness never softened, and his love and loyalty to the department, my family and mostly to me – his partner – was never interrupted. His heart was huge.”

Rittiman thanked the Midlothian PD for the opportunity to have such a partner as well as the “trust and support given to us throughout the years and to the very end,” he concluded. 

“Thank you to the community of Midlothian and to all the people in Ellis County and beyond, for all the unbelievable amount of support and love given to Vito and me through the past few days.

“I appreciate you all and am honored to serve Midlothian and Ellis County.”

Vito and Rittiman made their final rounds together – patrolling the community in the morning – and then sharing a Whataburger, Vito’s first ever hamburger, for lunch.  

After lunch, the partners went to the Midlothian Veterinary Clinic where they were joined by an assembly of around 50 first responders from agencies across the Metroplex – to salute Officer Vito for his final send off.