Retiring K-9 Officer Steve Ritchie shakes hands with Lockport Police Department Traffic Captain Mike Niethe, the first in a long line of officers to congratulate Ritchie on his retirement. (PHOTOS BY HEATHER N. GRIMMER / CONTRIBUTOR)

ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com

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Retiring K-9 Officer Steve Ritchie looks over the crowd of well wishers while holding a card he was given during his sendoff this afternoon.

After 29 years on the force, Lockport PD K-9 Officer Steve Ritchie is trading in his police uniform for a civilian one.

Ritchie, who was nearly killed in the line of duty 11 years ago had an abundance of well wishes this afternoon as he walked out of City Hall at 3 p.m., officially retiring from the force.

On Feb. 9, 2003, Ritchie was hit with multiple gunshots while attempting to make an arrest of an attempted murder suspect in a Town of Lockport trailer park. He was revived in the hospital several times that evening and suffered severe paralysis due to his injuries. It was thought he might never walk again.

Not one to take the easy way out of anything, however, Ritchie refused to retire, instead battling through a long and grueling rehabilitation process, returning to full duty with LPD in June of 2004.

Seeing him off — and coordinating this afternoon's sendoff — was Lockport Police Chief Larry Eggert, who was also badly wounded that Sunday morning when the shooter, Jason Kanalley, shot him in the back. Helping Eggert to see him off were officers from LPD, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office, the Amherst Police Department, Lewiston Police Department and Lockport firefighters. Many K-9 units were in attendance, a nod to Ritchie's years as K-9 officer.

Lockport Mayor Anne McCaffrey wishes Ritchie well while  Alderman Pat Schrader and Police Board Chief James  Gugliuzza look on.

A little over a year ago, Ritchie started his own company in a line of work that couldn't be any more different from police work — Ritchie Broadcasting L.L.C., a low-power television station of Buffalo. He took over the license for WBXZ-TV, Channel 56, in August. The network carries three substations. Its programming includes reruns of The Lone Ranger, Charlie's Angels, Magnum P.I., The Bionic Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man and more. Ritchie plans to add three more substations to the mix. The over-the-air network easily reaches from Buffalo into Lockport and depending on conditions, goes as far as Olcott and Barker — and Springville, to the south.

Unable to attend Ritchie's sendoff due to a prior commitment, Niagara County Sheriff Jim Voutour instead sent dogs — and kind words.

"We will miss Steve, a true law enforcement hero," Voutour said in an email. It would seem that Voutour is far from alone in his assessment.

Ritchie shook hands or offered hugs to everyone there to see him off, including this little tot.

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