K-9 Patrol Dog Reno Donated By Glasgow, Joins Joliet Police Force

JOLIET, IL ­— Joliet’s Police Department has a new officer after K-9 “Reno” recently joined the force after being purchased for the department by Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow.

Reno, a 2-year-old Malinois-German Shepherd, is the 13th K-9 that Glasgow has purchased and donated to Will County law enforcement agencies. The dogs have been purchased with money forfeited by drug dealers and money launders arrested and prosecuted in the county, according to a news release.

Glasgow said he purchased Reno, and paid for his training, and the canine transport equipment installed in the police vehicle using drug asset money seized from dealers and traffickers selling illegal narcotics in Will County. No taxpayer dollars were used.

“Police K-9s like Reno play a critical role in helping law enforcement take dangerous drug dealers off our streets and removing deadly drugs like fentanyl from our communities,” Glasgow said in a news release. “I also like to call these special K-9s ‘Ambassadors of Goodwill’ between police departments and the communities they serve.

“They help our officers and schools teach children about the dangers of drugs, as well as assist our schools in monitoring for the presence of drugs and providing an opportunity for student intervention and counseling. We must do everything in our power to help prevent the scourge of drug use and take those who sell and distribute them off the streets.”

Reno will be used as a “dual-purpose” patrol K-9 by the Joliet Police Department and will also be trained in tracking, article and evidence search, building search and suspect area search in addition to his work in narcotics detention, the news release said.

Reno completed his basic training on Nov. 4.

“K-9 Reno is a great addition to our team of law enforcement canines that work in our community,” Joliet Police Chief William Evans said in a statement.

In addition to Reno, the Joliet Police Department uses four other K-9 dogs in its unit, which first started in 1980, Evans said. Reno said that Reno has been working with his handler, Officer James Lukaszek, and has begun working to help protect the people of Joliet.

Reno is now a member of the “K-9s for Cops” program through Glasgow’s League of Extraordinary Canines & Friends, an initiative Glasgow that 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 previously purchased and donated “Rookie” in Shorewood, “Hutch” in Channahon, “Roxie” in Rockdale, “Mao” in Wilmington; “Simo” in Crest Hill, “Tib” (short for Tiburian) in Elwood; “Tucker” in Park Forest, “Cap” in Monee, “Helmut” in Tinley Park, “Nuke” in Braidwood, and “Apollo” in Manhattan.