Kane Sheriff announces death of K-9 Arko

ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – The Kane County Sheriff’s Office announced in a news release March 13 that K-9 Arko died last week.

Arko, a German shepherd from Hungary, started at the sheriff’s office on Sept. 30, 2016, and retired March 1. Arko would have been 10 years old in October. Undersheriff Amy Johnson said in an email that Arko died of old age.

Arko successfully found and apprehended numerous violent offenders, at times directly linking suspects to crimes that included firearms, according to the release.

“With K-9 Arko as my partner, I was told no less than 12 times by suspects I arrested that if I did not have my partner by my side that night, they were planning to either fight with me, flee from me or harm me in some way,” Lt. Michael Wilgosiewicz said in the release. “The simple presence of my partner by my side prevented me from being harmed. I came home to my family each night because K-9 Arko was there with me. My partner would have done anything to keep me safe.”

Arko was certified in obedience and handler protection and participated in countless article searches. These included evidence recovery, tracking, building searches and the apprehension of dangerous felons, according to the release.

Arko was an explosive detection K-9, having conducted more than 300 protective explosive detection sweeps throughout his career, which included partnering with federal and other governmental agencies statewide, according to the release.

The dog “passed peacefully, surrounded by his K-9 handler Lt. Wilgosiewicz and other members of the K-9 community,” according to the release. “Rest easy, K-9 Arko. We will take it from here.”