K-9 handler is Buffalo Grove Officer of the Year

The Buffalo Grove Police Department's K-9 officer, Danielle Baron, is the newest Buffalo Grove Officer of the Year.

The award was presented Monday on behalf of the police department and the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club, which sponsors the annual award.

"I felt very honored that I was chosen," Baron wrote Wednesday in an email. "We are a large agency with a lot of hardworking officers. There were a lot of deserving officers, and I appreciate the fact that my supervisors recognized mine and Saxon's hard work."

Buffalo Grove Police Chief Steve Casstevens said Baron is "consistently dedicated and very community-oriented.

"We have such a wonderful and professional police department of 64 officers and sometimes it's difficult to choose one," he added.

Baron, a 15-year veteran, and her canine partner, Saxon, have participated in more than 190 activities, such as search warrants, finding narcotics in vehicles and more, according to the department. Baron and Saxon are on call 24 hours each day.

"Danielle was selected based on her outstanding leadership, hard work, and her unselfish, consistent willingness to help others," said a news release. "She is self-motivated and focused on continuing to improve herself and her K-9 partner, Saxon."

Baron said that the most rewarding part of her job has been helping Saxon be successful and watching their hard work and training pay off. She said the long hours and the training are challenging, but it is worth it since she loves her job.

"I enjoy the community contacts and enjoy putting a smile on people's faces," said Baron. "Sometimes that is just a simple wave, other times it's a question-and-answer session with Saxon.

"It removes the negative curtain that is sometimes put up between the police and citizens."