CLEVELAND — A K-9 handler with the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force isn’t giving up after being told she can’t take her K-9 partner with her when she leaves the department.

For researcher Beth Crano and her family, Indy is much more than a coworker: she is family.

Crano has served for 13 years on the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Since January, her K-9 partner, Indy, has worked by her side, helping her locate electronic evidence in difficult cases.

At home, Indy holds a special place in the Crano household.

“At night when I put my kids to bed, she made it a routine to go over and kiss them goodnight,” Beth said.

But now a major part of her home is gone, as her husband, Rob Crano, told News 5 they don’t know where Indy is.

“We know he is in the care of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, the ICAC Task Force, but we don’t know his exact whereabouts because they didn’t tell us,” Crano said.

After working for more than a decade with ICAC, Beth Crano decided to step away from the department to focus on her family and mental health.

But she hoped to take her partner with her. Along with his resignation, Crano offered to buy Indy from the agency.

“I think it would be a disservice to repair her with another caregiver. So I am prepared and willing to offer the full amount, $15,000 to purchase Indy or retire Indy, let me purchase the next canine for the unit and set them up for success,” Crano said.

The county refused, and on November 1 Crano was ordered to surrender Indy.

Before she could do that, on Wednesday, her husband said Indy was separated from his wife while responding to a search warrant.

“During that search warrant, the commander came and confiscated Indy and the vehicle he was traveling in, and all other equipment he was carrying that was the property of ICAC. She has not been fired. She still works with them in this department,” Rob Crano said.

Crano believes the county is using Indy as retaliation against his wife for resigning.

“Thirteen years, this is the respect? This is the thanks they gave her after 13 years of service, all because they’re upset that she’s leaving them,” Crano said.

News 5 Cleveland contacted the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office regarding Indy and they responded with the following statement.

“It is my understanding that K9 Indy is 2 years old. K9 Indy’s career in law enforcement has just begun. He is a valuable tool in eliminating child predators and those who exploit children from our community and throughout the Northeast of Ohio. She is a valuable critical component in maintaining the public safety of our community. K-9 Indy is a two-year rookie in law enforcement and is clearly still fit for duty under Section 9.62(D). of the Ohio Revised Code, Officer Crano has forfeited her right to purchase K9 Indy under the laws of the state of Ohio.”

The prosecutor’s office said Indy will begin training with a new coach on Nov. 4.

“Our children couldn’t say goodbye. We couldn’t say goodbye. Our retired canine couldn’t say goodbye. They took her without even bringing her her medicine, her food, her toys,” Crano said.

The Cranos contacted prosecutor Michael O’Malley directly and said they have not yet heard back.

“I sincerely hope that Prosecutor O’Malley and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, given this information, will reevaluate the ICAC Commander’s intentions and decisions. “These actions reflect poorly on the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and undermine efforts to staff the office with trained professionals and build ties with local law enforcement agencies,” Crano said.

To raise awareness, Michelle Majer, a family friend and former prosecutor, started a petition for the Crano family that now has more than 4,000 signatures.

“I see the legislation and the movement towards canine officers being treated like real officers for the purposes of when they are shot and when they are stabbed, which makes the penalties greater, but then when it comes to the situation here, it is He treats them like chattel, and it bothers me and it’s unfair, and that’s what made me think,” Majer said.

Beth Crano remains employed at the agency and is using her vacation time to complete her remaining employment through December 1. Rob Crano adds that although his wife is leaving the agency, she won’t be leaving law enforcement, and they both say they won’t give up until Indy is home.

“It’s not that we want to fight with anyone about this. We only want the best for the dog. She is a loved one, she is a member of our family. They want the best for Indy,” Crano said.

While the Crano family remains hopeful for Indy’s return, they share a heartfelt wish: If they can’t bring her home, they want to know she’s happy and well cared for, and they’d love the chance to say goodbye.

For more information about the petition, click here; for Facebook page click here.

Last year, an officer in Shaker Heights was reunited with his K-9 partner after being transferred to police departments.

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