K-9 Unit

K9 Unit

The Park Forest Police Department has a long-standing history of employing K9 units but saw a “paws” in the program when K9 Tobi retired in the summer of 2017. However, we are happy to share that man’s best friend again aids the Park Forest Police Department with K9 Tucker, a Dutch Shepherd, and his handler, Officer Charles Karl, who graduated from K9 school in October of 2018. We also have plans to add a second K9 team in the coming year. Certified by the American Working Dog Association, the Park Forest Police K-9 Unit specializes in narcotics detection and tracking and is routinely used for a variety of assignments such as:

Missing person searches

Narcotics detection

Suspect tracking

Participating in community demonstrations

Choosing K-9 Officers

The role of K-9 officer is a coveted position within the Park Forest Police Department, and K-9 officers are generally chosen from the ranks of the patrol division based on dedication to duty, active, self-initiated patrolling, and an aptitude for handling the increased time demands and responsibility of being a Park Forest Police K-9 officer.