Big muzzle to fill as 'class act' retires from Elgin police

Elgin police officer Travis Hooker says he had the best partner a cop could ever have.

“He never called in sick. He never said he was too tired after a long shift. (He) never talked back or argued with me, Hooker recalled.

Most cops serve 30 years on the force before retiring, but Hooker's partner served the equivalent of around 63.

After nine years on the force, police dog Kregin has retired.

Hooker, who took Kregin home with him after every shift, recalled instances this week during an Elgin City Council ceremony when the dog helped apprehend a murder suspect, tracked missing kids and seized narcotics.

Hooker said Kregin is a “class act that was very protective of his two daughters as well. But because of old age he is no longer physically able to perform as a police dog.

“His payment required for a job well done was a simple pat on the head, a rub on the belly and the words ‘Good job,' Hooker said. “The old adage that a dog is a man's best friend is true. I spent almost 24 hours a day with my partner for the last nine years. I couldn't have asked for a better partner, friend or family member.

Mayor Ed Schock said Kregin went on thousands of service calls for Elgin and other agencies, recovered more than $40,000 worth of drugs and received 12 letters of commendation from the department.

“Not only Kregin, but Officer Hooker has served the Elgin Police Department wonderfully, added Police Chief Jeff Swoboda.

While Kregin will live with Hooker and his family from now on, Hooker has a new partner, a German Shephard named Deutsch.

Assigned to the midnight shift this summer, Deutsch sniffed out 15 pieces of crack cocaine from a suspect's vehicle on his first night on duty.

Elgin police spokeswoman Sue Olafson said the department has three police dogs Deutsch, Gage and Keiser and each is assigned an 8-hour shift.