Newly Donated Vests to Help Protect K9 Unit

The Kane County Sheriff’s office received a generous donation this summer of three ballistic vests for the office’s K9 unit. The vests help to protect the unit when they are responding to a potentially dangerous situation involving an armed suspect.

Brett Milo, of the Milo Group in St. Charles, donated the vests. Each vest costs approximately $1500, according to a press release.

“K9's are the last officers to receive any protection,” Milo said. “Almost all K9 armor is donated. I had the opportunity to do so, and gladly took it."

A dog in the K9 unit has never been killed, however the previous vests, “were outdated,” Lt. Patrick Gengler said.

The newly donated vests, “provide protection against most firearms,” Milo said.

“The vests just supply an added level of protection,” Gengler said. “They are not a guarantee of protection, but [they] increase the odds of surviving an armed conflict.”

With budgets being as tight as they are, the Sheriff’s Office would not have been able to purchase these vests out of their normal budget, according to a press release.

“In addition to the K9's, most department SWAT teams rely on fundraising to cover costs,” Milo said. “Support all your local law enforcement when you can!”

All of the dogs in the K9 unit are certified by the North American Police Work Dog Association and the Illinois Police Work Dog Association, according to the Kane County Sheriff website. Currently, there are four dogs in the K9 unit:

• Dakar is a male German Shepherd who is certified in, “narcotics detection, tracking, building searches, evidence recovery, area searches and handler protection,” according to the Kane County Sheriff website.

• Dok, a multipurpose patrol K9, is a male German Shepherd who is certified in. “explosive detection, tracking, building searches, evidence recovery, area searches and handler protection,” according to the Kane County Sheriff website.

• Gino is a male German Shepherd who is certified in, “explosive detection, tracking suspects and lost people, building searches, evidence recovery, apprehensions and handler protection,” according to the Kane County Sheriff website.

• Tyront is a male Belgian Malinois who is certified in, “narcotics detection, tracking, building searches, evidence recovery, suspect apprehension, and handler protection,” according to the Kane County Sheriff website.