Schaumburg police dog takes ‘early retirement’

Schaumburg’s police dog, Thunder, will take early retirement next month due to the imminent promotion of his handler.

And town officials hope Thunder’s replacement, who will be paid for with state drug seizure money, has a more social side so that he can interact with the public at special events.

Thunder, while an excellent police dog, is all business and can’t be petted by kids, Schaumburg Police Chief Brian Howerton said.

Officer Bruce Cram, who’s worked with Thunder since the dog’s introduction to the department three years ago, will be promoted to sergeant next month when Sgt. Don Eller retires.

The department has discovered over the years that a sergeant cannot effectively maintain the responsibilities of canine officer, and it’s uncertain whether a dog will take to a new handler, Howerton said.

So Cram has agreed to buy Thunder for what his four expected years of remaining service to the department would have been worth — $6,571.

With the use of drug seizure money to buy the new dog, the department will do better than break even financially, Howerton said.

The village already is in the process of deciding between two kennels in Indiana and Michigan to find the new dog, expected to cost between $11,500 and $12,500 with training included.

The dogs are already a year old when they’re ready for service, and the kennel should be able to identify the right personality for the “dual-purpose” dog Schaumburg is looking for — both social and aggressive, depending on the situation.

One thing already certain is that the department will be choosing another German shepherd like Thunder and his predecessors.

“Typically, German shepherds make the best all-around police dogs,” Howerton said.

While some other breeds are better at particular aspects of police work, none put together all the skills as well as German shepherds, he added.

While the training period for the new dog will last several weeks, the department is hoping for only a short gap between Thunder’s retirement and the new dog’s arrival.

“We’re trying to make it as seamless a transition as possible,” Howerton said.