Questions about the future of the dog court -- a decades-old, successful program overseeing the city's canines and the people who own them -- began percolating after news broke that Herndon had been unexpectedly reassigned to desk duty at Park Station. This move was ostensibly made to address a shortage of sergeants in the department.
That threw the status of dog court into question. The situation only became more muddled earlier this week when SF Weekly reached Herndon's partner of more than a decade in the vicious and dangerous animals unit and dog court, Officer John Denny. Denny curtly told us that he had been told he was "not at liberty" to speak with us -- and was also barred from talking to Herndon.
We tracked down Herndon yesterday. He confirmed he has signed his retirement papers. He, too, was reticent to talk much because he didn't "want to stir the pot," and certainly didn't want anything to happen to dog court. "Our goal is accomplished," said Herndon. "I think the unit has survived. I think I have been replaced by someone, which is good."
Herndon wouldn't reveal his successor, but calls around the department determined it's Officer Sherry Hicks. This was confirmed by Rebecca Katz, the director of the city's Department of Animal Care and Control. Hicks has "been assigned [to dog court], and if this works out, she'll stay assigned," says Katz.
With neither Herndon nor Denny willing to say much, it remains uncertain if the recent drama was simply heavy handed management -- or something more. The only thing that's clear, it seems, are Herndon's short-term plans. He's lucked into obtaining a dressage horse, and plans on spending his days riding it around a bit.
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