Crime & Safety

New K9 Officer Catches First 'Bad Guy' In Vernon Hills

The Mundelein Police Department's newest canine, Ranger, helped apprehend the suspect.

Mundelein Police K-9 Ranger
Mundelein Police K-9 Ranger (Mundelein Police Department)

November 10, 2022 1:34 PM

The Mundelein Police Department’s newest canine, Ranger, took his first “bad guy” off the street after helping track down a suspect who fled from officers in Vernon Hills.

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The department said Wednesday that Ranger and his handler, Officer Kevin Freese, assisted the Vernon Hills Police Department. A suspect had fled from their officers and led them on a foot chase.

The suspect was located by Ranger and surrendered after seeing the canine.

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The suspect was then taken into custody without further incident.

“Congratulations Canine Ranger on taking your first “bad guy” off the street!” the Mundelein Police Department said on social media.

The department announced last month that they were adding Ranger, a dual-purpose canine, to their agency. Ranger is a male German Shepherd and was training at TOPS Kennel in Grayslake.

He is a dual-purpose canine specializing in locating missing people, criminals and illegal narcotics.

“Ranger is serious at work but adapts well to the family life when off duty,” the department said last month, adding that Ranger lives with Officer Freese.

In August, the department asked School District 75 students to help choose the name of the then-18-month-old dog.


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