‘Always part of the family’: Vernon Hills police comfort dog retires after short career

One could say Vernon Hills’ first police comfort dog, Billie, got too comfortable with the police station as her home to fulfill her duties.

Several weeks ago, “Pawfficer Billie” was retired from the force. This week, ownership officially was transferred from the village to a department supervisor, who is keeping her at home as a pet.

Despite additional training, Billie’s attention wandered and her comfort skills deteriorated to a point a difficult decision had to be made, said police Chief Patrick Kreis.

The determination was that Billie would make an excellent pet but was unfit to be a full-time wellness dog.

“Her discipline as a work dog diminished,” said Kreis, who fondly recalled starting his days by taking her for a walk. “When we put her working vest on, we could tell it was something she didn’t look forward to.”

Lisa Wernli, executive director of Canines 4 Comfort, which brought comfort dog Elwood to Libertyville police and has worked with other agencies, said she has seen instances where a dog’s temperament or focus shifts over time.

“Each dog is unique, and life circumstances, such as environment, age or workload, can play a role in how they adapt to or maintain their responsibilities,” she said.

Elwood, who came to Libertyville in April 2023, is doing well, she added.

Billie, a 2-year rescue of then unknown mixed heritage, was introduced in May 2023 during an assembly of sixth-graders at Hawthorn Middle School South.

Kreis said testing eventually showed she was a mix of 17 breeds.

Students bugged Kreis for years to consider a canine patrol for the department but were told there wasn’t enough work to justify one. The request was modified and Billie was brought in to provide support for officers and the community.

She lived at the police station, with several beds throughout and a kennel to sleep in at night.

“It turned into her home and our officers turned into her family,” Kreis recently told village officials.

The program was successful to start but gradually Billie seemed to have lost effectiveness and was withdrawing from wellness work, Kreis informed the community on social media.

“During her short time with us, Billie has comforted countless members of the public and our staff,” the post reads.

While her career fell short of what was hoped, Kreis said Billie made a lot of connections and was an asset.

“She will always be part of our family,” he said on social media.

The department plans to the continue the program and is evaluating potential modifications and adjustments before moving forward, he added.

“We've also learned a lot during this experience and continue to exchange knowledge with other police departments in this emerging area of police service,” he said.