Local Donor Helps Keep Kane County K9s Bulletproof

A St. Charles businessman has donated three ballistic vests this summer to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office for its 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, which each costs about $1,500, according to a press release.

“K9s 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A dog in the K9 unit has never been killed, however the previous vests, “were outdated,” Lt.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 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 the vests, according to a press release.

“In addition to the K9s, most department SWAT teams rely on fundraising to cover costs,” Milo said. “Support all your local law enforcement when you can!”

All 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's website. 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's 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's 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's 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's website.