Lake Bluff Business Donates Bulletproof Dog Vest To Sheriff's Office

LAKE BLUFF, IL — One of the Lake County Sheriff's Office's police dogs recently received a new bullet and stab protective vest as a gift from a local business.

ELCO Mutual Life and Annuity, headquartered at 916 Sherwood Drive in Lake Bluff, sponsored a vest for K9 Axel through the not-for-profit organization Vested Interest in K9, the sheriff's office announced.

Sheriff John Idleburg thanked the local financial planning firm and the Massachusetts-based charity in a statement.

“We are so grateful for this generous donation," Idleburg said. "This donation allows us to save the money we would have used for the vest and instead use it for other purposes to support our Canine Unit."

Vested Interest in K9s has provided more than 5,289 vests worth nearly $7 million to some of the 30,000 police dogs across the country. Each vest is worth $1,800, but a single $985 donation to the charity will sponsor one vest.

"We are fortunate to be part of such a generous community," Idelburg said.

As of last year, the sheriff's office has seven canine teams. Axel — who will now be wearing a vest embroidered with the message "Gifted by ELCO Mutual" — joined the office in March of 2022. The office's other dogs are named Boomer, Dax, Duke, Danno, Echo and Ryker.