Dupage Policy Journal

The Wood Dale City Council recognized the retirement of one of the members of the local police department – a K-9 officer – at a recent meeting.

K-9 Officer Bane was a member of the DuPage Fiat K-9 Group – now called the DuPage Amerit K-9 group – and worked on dozens of high-profile cases during his career.

The City Council issued a proclamation in honor of K-9 Bane. The dog, a Belgian Malinois, became a member of the Wood Dale Police Department in August 2015. He began working when he was 17 months old and is certified in narcotics indication, article searches, suspect tracking, and protecting his handler, Sgt. Evan Grant.

The mayor and City Council granted K-9 Bane full retirement from the police department because he is now at an age that makes it impossible to carry out the duties that he did in the past.

Police Chief Greg Vesta honored K-9 Bane.

"During his career, K-9 Bane was deployed over 560 times throughout DuPage County and the Chicagoland area," Vesta said. "K-9 Bane assisted in the location and seizure of over $973 million worth of narcotics and $1 million in cash as well as numerous suspects and evidence. K-9 Bane also participated in countless school presentations and community events throughout his career. Please join us in congratulating K-9 Bane on retirement. Bane will be turning nine years old in March."

The Wood Dale Police Department followed procedure and offered the sale of the retired dog to his handler. The city's treasurer paid the sale price of one dollar so K-9 Bane could stay with his handler. 

The department recently swore in two new (human) officers – Sean Nicholas and Thomas McKendry. Nicholas will start field training right away because he has previous law enforcement experience. McKendry will head to the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy.