Illinois law enforcement agency has introduced its first-ever therapy dog to enhance the mental health of its officers. The agency is thrilled to have the new addition, and it hopes the therapy dog will provide comfort and support to the officers in their daily duties.
Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board has been impressed by the performance of Trooper, a two-year-old border collie, who joined them just a few months ago. Officers have already taken notice of Trooper’s abilities.
Jennifer Wooldridge, the Deputy Director of ILETSB and handler of Trooper, shared that during Trooper’s presence on site, test takers often interrupt their exams just to spend a few minutes petting Trooper and alleviating their stress.
According to her, Trooper is the first therapy dog for the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) provided by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
Traveling across Illinois, he collaborates with law enforcement officers, providing guidance and support to cadets at the police academy, as well as those undergoing crisis intervention training.
According to Wooldridge, the program’s aim is to broaden its reach and introduce additional CIT therapy dogs for deployment throughout the state.
“We aim to have the ability to deploy a dog across the state to schools, hospitals, critical incidents for officers, or for specific training purposes. It’s not just Trooper who can provide this service.”
Initially discovered tied to a pole in Cicero, Trooper was later enrolled in therapy dog training with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
“We were told that Trooper was up for adoption, and upon meeting him, we instantly fell in love. In April of this year, we were thrilled to officially welcome Trooper into our family through adoption.”
