‘I miss you, buddy’: Two years later, St. Francis K-9 Bane’s legacy still leaves its pawprint
ST. FRANCIS, Wis. — Two years later, retired St. Francis K9 Bane’s legacy still lives on through music, family and community.
If you’ve ever driven down Howard Avenue in St. Francis, chances are you’ve noticed the bronze statue sitting outside the police department.
For many, it’s a tribute to the work police K9s do behind the scenes.
But for former St. Francis Police K9 handler Holly McManus, it’s much more than that.
It’s her partner. Her best friend. And a reminder that even two years after his death, K9 Bane’s legacy is still changing lives.
“I love driving down Howard Avenue and saying hey buddy,” McManus said. “I used to say hi to him every morning when I pulled in and goodbye to him every day.”
Bane served alongside McManus for nearly a decade, becoming one of the most recognizable K9s in southeastern Wisconsin.
While he was known for his work helping officers track suspects and recover evidence, McManus said Bane also became deeply connected to the community through school visits, parades, National Night Out events and countless public appearances.
“I think everybody knows Bane as the grumpy old man,” McManus laughed.
But behind that tough exterior, she said, was a dog who showed up for people everywhere he went.
“Even when I would have to cover crossing guard duty, if it was nice enough outside, Bane was standing next to me,” she said.
McManus described Bane as “a meeter, not a greeter.” He wasn’t the kind of dog strangers could pet freely, but he still left an impact everywhere he went.
“As K9 handlers, we generally measure our success in a team as numbers,” McManus said. “How many bad guys did you catch, how many drugs did you take off the street.”
Bane helped locate evidence, track suspects and assist officers during high-risk situations throughout his career. McManus said one of the most rewarding experiences was working alongside the FBI SWAT team during missions and training exercises.
Still, she says Bane’s legacy ultimately became bigger than statistics.
“Bane’s success for me was beyond those numbers,” she said.
His favorite job was tracking.
“Track for good people, bad people,” McManus said.
One of the most recognizable pieces of Bane’s statue is the harness draped across him — the same harness he wore while working.