State’s Attorney Glasgow Announces Ninth K-9 Donated to Local Law Enforcement Agencies
Forfeiture Money Being Used to Help Our Communities
JOLIET – A new member of the Monee Police Department was sworn in at the July 28 Monee Village Board Meeting – K-9 “Cap,” a 19-month-old German Shepherd purchased by Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow for the Monee Police Department using money forfeited from drug dealers and money launderers. Glasgow, Monee Police Chief Scott Koerner, and handler Officer Steve Crescenti joined Cap as he was sworn in by Village Clerk Doneshia Codjoe before Mayor Dr. Therese Bogs and the members of the Village Board.
Glasgow paid for the purchase of Cap, his training, and the canine transport equipment installed in the police vehicle, with drug asset money seized from dealers and traffickers selling illegal narcotics in Will County. No taxpayer dollars were used. Cap joins eight other canines Glasgow has provided to law enforcement agencies throughout Will County.
“We must continue to do everything we can to confront the deadly opioid epidemic that has gripped our communities even more significantly during the Covid pandemic. These special K-9s do a remarkable job assisting local law enforcement efforts in taking dealers off our streets and removing dangerous drugs from our communities,” Glasgow said. “The K-9s also play a vital role in preventing the scourge of drug use by helping our officers and schools teach children about the dangers of drugs, as well as helping schools monitor for the presence of drugs and providing an opportunity for student intervention and counseling.
“Cap is the latest K-9 I have donated, but he won’t be the last in this important program! These Police K-9s play an essential role as Ambassadors of Goodwill between the police department and the community they serve.”
In addition to Cap, State’s Attorney Glasgow has provided “Rookie” in Shorewood, “Hutch” in Channahon, “Roxie” in Rockdale, and “Mao” in Wilmington; “Simo” in Crest Hill, “Tib” (short for Tiburian) in Elwood; and “Tucker” in Park Forest. Glasgow provided the training and K-9 transport equipment for each of these K-9s as well. Glasgow also partnered with the Will County Sheriff by contributing half the cost for “Loki,” a German Shepherd trained in detecting explosives who joined the Will County Sheriff’s Department last year to provide critically important technical security at the new Will County courthouse.
“Our Police Department and the Village of Monee are excited to have Cap as a member of our law enforcement team,” said Chief Koerner. “Cap and Officer Crescenti completed a rigorous five-week training course at Landheim Training Center in Indiana before Cap could begin his duties. We’ve already seen that Cap has quickly become a popular member of the Monee Police Department!”
Cap is a member of Glasgow’s “K-9s for Cops” program, a part of the League of Extraordinary Canines & Friends initiative Glasgow established to bring together the law enforcement community, animal control agencies, veterinarians, humane societies, rescue groups, and all who care about the humane treatment of animals to work together in addressing animal cruelty and neglect. Glasgow also works closely with the nonprofit organization K9s for Vets that provides service dogs to veterans with PTSD and helps veterans with PTSD transition to civilian life.
“These wonderful police K-9s serve a dual purpose; along with helping address the scourge of drugs, these canines teach our children the importance of empathy, compassion, and good old-fashioned kindness to animals,” Glasgow said. “Many serial killers have a history of abusing animals. In 1999, I wrote legislation making the torture of animals a felony in Illinois with a mandatory psychiatric evaluation to derail a potential mass murderer. Children who see someone hurting a trusting, defenseless animal at home, or who hurt animals themselves, may eventually do the same to human beings. Helping raise awareness about animal abuse and neglect also guards against violence against other humans.”
In addition to crusading to protect animals, Glasgow has an extensive history of addressing the opioid epidemic. He has pursued an aggressive agenda that includes targeting heroin dealers and prosecuting drug-induced homicides against heroin/fentanyl dealers who have sold this deadly poison to hold them accountable for these tragic homicides. Additionally, in 1998, Glasgow obtained the federal grants to establish Will County’s drug court program that helps offenders re-enter the community following an intensive and structured program. Glasgow also works with HERO (Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization) and HELPS (Heroin Education Leads to Preventative Solutions) to educate our communities about the dangers of opioids.
