Lisle police swear in its new canine cop

The Lisle Police Department's newest recruit was sworn in May 13 before a gathering of fellow officers, Chief Michael Damico and Mayor Joseph Broda.

During opening remarks, the mayor called the ceremony "historic" because it reinstates a unit in the department that was inactive for several decades.

Officer Bart will serve the citizens and law enforcement officers of Lisle. For his work, he will receive compensation that includes medical care, lodging and meals, but no 401K plan.

Happily, a police service dog isn't concerned with such things. He likes to work with his handler and considers playing his reward.

Bart, with partner officer Bill Wise, will share the police canine unit vehicle. Wise gets the front seat with all the police technology and Bart has a special cage, fan and water bowl in back.

The 17-month-old male German shepherd came to Lisle from Holland. He received training in the Netherlands, as well as at a Pennsylvania kennel. His commands are given in Dutch -- so people can't yell out commands to confuse him.

"When we placed our order for what kind of dog we wanted, we were able to pick the breed and temperament," Damico said. "I asked for a dog that was more passive and friendly so he could go into the schools and reach out to the children, and yet be capable of doing all the things a police dog needs to do."

Damico had high praise for his newest recruit -- Bart.

A master trainer from the Cook County sheriff's program went to Pennsylvania to pick Bart out for the Lisle department and ran him through a number of qualifying tests.

On his return to this area, the trainer put in another six weeks of intensive instruction with Bart before Wise was called in to meet and bond with the dog.

"When I came to meet (Bart), I became the handler and he learned all the commands from me in the course of our six weeks of 8- to 9-hour days," Wise said.

Wise and Bart are now a working team.

As a police K9 dog, Bart will have many responsibilities. He is trained to track and apprehend suspects, conduct building searches, detect narcotics, locate lost or missing persons, find stolen or discarded evidence and do crowd control.

Although Bart does not replace a police officer, he is trained to be a sophisticated tool to enhance law enforcement.

A German shepherd is the most common canine used for police work.

"Bart is certified in drug and narcotics," Damico said. "His nose is trained to find narcotics so he can walk up to people or a car and find if there are narcotics there."

The goal of a canine unit is to create a safer work environment for officers. With Bart's keen senses, searching for suspects will be more effective.

He is able to find someone trying to elude police in a shorter amount of time than a human may. A dog can locate a person, place or thing by scent without the need to open every door and look behind every obstacle. He is not dependent on hearing or seeing a person.

And Bart's ability to run faster than a human may prove to be a practical deterrent to an offender.

Public funds were used to re-establish the canine unit in Lisle.

"The cost was $6,200 for the dog and the sheriff's canine training was another $3,000," Damico said.

Each week, Bart and Wise will refine their team skills. Their special relationship is built on trust and relying on each other.

The police station did not have to be altered to accommodate a canine unit.

"When the police station originally was built, it included a dog kennel, so it is nice that we can utilize that now," Wise said. "The only major change in the department is that my hours will be a little different than a regular patrol shift."

Some of the first tasks Bart and Wise did were to visit Lisle classrooms and answer students' questions.

Wise told the children about Bart's exceptional sense of smell. He showed them a remote devise that will open the special police vehicle so Wise can call Bart to join him even if the two are separated. He pointed out the distinctive printed word "Police" on Bart's collar that glows in the dark.

Everyone seemed pleased that Bart soon would have his own bulletproof vest.

Off duty, Bart resides with Wise and his family that includes Lisle DARE officer Jodie Wise, Bill's wife, and two other dogs.

"Bart has adjusted well to our home and I couldn't be happier," Wise said.

The average canine officer works seven to 10 years in law enforcement. When Bart retires, he will continue to be part of his handler's family, which sounds like the kind of R & R a working police officer can enjoy.