Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and his office welcomed their newest team member, Duo Dog “Crew,” to the office. DuPage County Clerk of the Circuit Court Candice Adams administered Crew’s oath of office at a ceremony attended by many of Crew’s new colleagues. Following the ceremony, Crew, a twenty-month-old Labrador Retriever, took time to introduce himself to his fellow employees and posed for photographs.

“We are all very excited and grateful to welcome Crew to our team,” Berlin said. “While I’m sure Crew will be eager to assist wherever necessary, his main objective will be to provide comfort, compassion and companionship to children as they turn to the Children’s Advocacy Center for protection and justice. Additionally, Crew’s daily presence in our office will undoubtedly improve morale and support our staff in coping with the daily stresses and pressures associated with promoting public safety and achieving our mission of seeking justice for the people of DuPage County.”

Crew came to the State’s Attorney’s Office courtesy of Duo Dogs, Inc., a national nonprofit organization based in St. Louis that trains and connects dogs with people to cultivate positive change in individuals, families, and communities. Specifically, Crew is a facility dog specially trained and placed according to his natural abilities, interests, and temperament, to work with trained handlers within the office for the benefit of vulnerable populations served by the State’s Attorney’s Office.

“I am 100% committed to lessening the trauma experienced by child victims and witnesses to violent crime as they find themselves, through no fault of their own, thrust into the scary and intimidating world of the criminal justice system,” Berlin continued. “I am confident that Crew will prove to be an extraordinary ambassador of our office and provide the love, comfort and support necessary to help ease the stress and provide a calming presence to children and their families under extremely traumatic and emotionally draining circumstances.”