Buffalo Grove, ILBuffalo Grove

K9 Mac, a 15-month-old sable German shepherd, was sworn in as the newest member of the Buffalo Grove Police Department at the June 19 Village Board meeting.

Mac and his handler, Officer Shannon McMillon, recently graduated from an eight-week basic training and certification process at TOPS Kennel in Grayslake, and will begin service with the Police Department immediately.

The basic training included sessions on patrol techniques, handler protection and narcotics detection. K9 teams were also trained in tracking and locating criminal suspects, endangered missing persons and conducting searches in different environments.

In addition to physical stamina and endurance, the training program helped strengthen the critical relationship between Mac and Officer McMillon.  The training is familiar to Officer McMillon, as he worked as a full-time K9 Trainer at TOPS Kennel prior to joining the Buffalo Grove Police Department in 2014.

To ensure they maintain and advance their skills, Mac and Officer McMillon will continue regular maintenance training and additional certifications, and will be trained in cadaver searches later this year.

Jody Page of Page’s Healthy Paws has generously agreed to donate Mac’s food.  Other future expenses related to the K9 unit, such as medical care will be funded between grant funding and asset forfeiture money seized from narcotics deals.

The Department’s K9 program was established in 1996 with K9 Grimm and former K9 Officer Dean Schulz. Officer McMillon and Mac are the fifth K9 unit to support the Village of Buffalo Grove and are eager to begin their journey together and add value to the Department and community.