‘A bold, fun little guy’: Wheeling police welcome new comfort dog
The Wheeling Police Department’s newest service dog is on the scene.
With the unofficial title of “Pawfficer,” Buddy — a 2-year-old, Labrador retriever and terrier mix — joined the department in November as an emotional support animal for police officers and community members.
He succeeds Olive, a golden retriever mix who started with the department in 2022.
Buddy was sworn in as the department’s latest four-legged staff member during Monday night’s village board meeting. He was accompanied to the dais for the honor by one of his three primary handlers, officer Piotr Akszterowicz.
Village Clerk Kathryn Brady read Buddy’s oath for him. She said meeting Buddy was awesome.
“He is such a friendly dog,” Brady said in an email Tuesday. “He just wants you to scratch or hug and tell him he is a good boy.”
Buddy was trained by an organization in downstate Ava called Supporting Independence through Teamwork, or SIT. In remarks Monday night, Police Chief Jamie Dunne described Buddy as “a bold, fun little guy.”
“Buddy has never met a person he did not like, and he loves to make people laugh,” Dunne said. “Since joining the team, Buddy has adapted seamlessly, earning affection and trust with his calm demeanor and warm presence.”
Buddy wears a special blue vest to identify his role with the department.
While Olive lived at the police station full-time, Buddy spends about half his time there.
“The rest of the time, mostly weekends and holidays, Buddy will be home with one of the three main handlers,” Dunne told the Daily Herald. In addition to Akszterowicz, Buddy’s primary handlers are detective Jordon Hudak and records supervisor Kathy Whitehead.
Officers Lukasz Czapla and Katazyna Struga also are trained handlers for Buddy. But any officer or social worker can call on Buddy for help.
Police in Buffalo Grove, Elgin, Fox Lake, Hoffman Estates, Mundelein and St. Charles are among those who’ve worked with comfort dogs. So have the Libertyville police and fire departments.
The Cook County, DuPage County and Lake County state's attorney's offices have used dogs to soothe children or people with mental disabilities during interviews and in court, too.