Decorated K9 passes away weeks after retirement, Kane County Sheriff’s Office announces
The Kane County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that decorated K9 Arko, who retired March 1 after serving the department for more than seven years, has died.
In a news release, the Sheriff’s Office says K9 Arko “passed peacefully, surrounded by his K9 handler, Lt. (Michael) Wilgosiewicz, and other members of the K9 community.”
According to the release, K9 Arko was born Oct. 18, 2014, and imported to the Kane County Sheriff’s Department from Hungary. K9 Arko began serving on Sept. 30, 2016, as an Explosive Detection K9.
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Certified in obedience and handler protection, according to the release, K9 Arko participated in many article searches, which included evidence recovery, tracking, building searches and the apprehension of dangerous felons, during his time with the Sheriff’s Office.
“K9 Arko, along with his handler, successfully located and apprehended numerous violent offenders, at times directly linking suspects to crimes, which included firearms and spent shell casings,” the Sheriff’s Office says. “K9 Arko conducted well over 300 protective explosive detection sweeps throughout his decorated career, which included an integral role in partnering with federal and other governmental agencies statewide.”
Lt. Wilgosiewicz said in the release that K9 Arko was indispensable to him.
“With K9 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,” Wilgosiewicz said. “The simple presence of my partner by my side prevented me from being harmed.
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“I came home to my family each night because K9 Arko was there with me. My partner would have done anything to keep me safe.”
The Sheriff’s Office issued this final statement:
“K9 Arko’s dedication to his handler, Lt. Wilgosiewicz, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Kane County will never be forgotten.
“Rest easy, K9 Arko. We will take it from here.”
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