Dax, one of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office’s police dogs, is retiring after being injured while helping his deputy handler make an arrest last month.
The sheriff’s office announced Thursday that Dax, who had suffered some paralysis, cannot return to duty.
Dax joined the department in 2015 as a 13-month-old and had a storied career alongside his handler, Deputy Ray Forlenza. He located 400 missing people and discovered hundreds of pounds of drugs, as well as sniffing out numerous firearms, the sheriff’s office reported.
Dax, a male German shepherd and retiring member of the K-9 unit at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, demonstrates one of his skills at a 2016 fundraiser for Illinois Special Olympics. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
He was recognized numerous times for his skill and service, and also competed in contests that showcased his tracking ability and agility.
He was injured on March 3 as he helped Forlenza apprehend a subject. Dax was initially paralyzed in his hindquarters, but has regained the use of his legs through physical therapy. However, he was also found to have disc and spinal issues that forced his departure.
In retirement, Dax will reside with Forlenza and his family.
“There is no way to quantify or properly express what Dax’s service has meant to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County community, his supporters across the nation and especially me,” Forlenza said. “But I cannot refrain from stating that his service has been exemplary, and most importantly he has saved countless lives, including my own. I am proud to have been his handler and best friend for the last nine years.”
“Deputy John Forlenza and K-9 Dax exemplify what a true partnership looks like,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “They are among the top canine teams in the nation. There was virtually nothing K9 Dax couldn’t handle.”
Zion shootings
Zion police said two people were hurt by gunfire in incidents on the same block on consecutive days.
Officers were called to the 2400 block of Joanna Avenue on March 30 and 31 to investigate two shootings with possible gang ties, police said.
On March 30, reports of multiple gunshots brought police to the street, where they discovered a 17-year-old in the street with a life-threatening bullet wound to the neck. The victim, a Chicago resident, was initially reported to be in critical condition.
Police said two groups of people exchanged gunfire before driving off, leaving the wounded teen.
The following evening, police said, someone fired on a house in the same block. A 17-year-old girl inside the residence was hit in the foot. She was treated and released from a hospital.
Courthouse visit
Representatives from a state judicial group recently spent a day at the Lake County Courthouse learning about the 19th Judicial Circuit programs for self-represented litigants (SRL).
The members from the administrative office of Illinois Courts Access to Justice Division’s Court Navigator Network spent March 15 in local SRL courtrooms, watching the programs in action. They also met with 19th Judicial Circuit judges and staffers to discuss issues affecting access to justice.
“Thank you to all participants in this wonderful SRL program,” Lake County Chief Judge Daniel B. Shanes said. “Your work is vital to the fair and effective administration of justice.
“Collaborating with justice partners and outside agencies allows the court to continue to problem-solve challenges SRLs experience and develop additional strategies to ensure the guarantee of access to justice,” he said.
Focus on the road
April is Distracted Driving month and Waukegan police are among the law enforcement agencies that say they will be stepping up their efforts to proactively enforce traffic safety laws.
Cellphone use, including texting while driving, remains a common cause of distracted driving, WPD said.
“Your safety is worth more than any notification. Don’t let distractions steal your focus while driving,” the department said in a news release.
