Almost six months after traveling to Oak Brook to become a member of the police department, the new arrival’s popularity continues to grow.
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Bandit, a comfort/therapy dog that came in mid-December 2022 to the village from South Carolina as a two-month-old puppy, is the new arrival. Once the decision was made to bring aboard a comfort/therapy dog, the police department reached out to local school children to come up with a name for the Goldendoodle. Students from Butler Elementary District 53 came up with “Bandit.”
After arriving in Oak Brook, a visit by Bandit to Brook Forest School for a review of safety drills left everyone impressed.
“Bandit is the most lovable friend anyone can have in their life,” Brook Forest Principal Andrea Prola said. “”The school already has a comfort dog that visits often, and the addition of Bandit will continue to support the school’s social and emotional standards and goals.”
Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis said before Bandit arrived that he believed a comfort/therapy dog would make for a wonderful addition to the department.
“There are other departments doing it, and it makes a lot of sense for us,” Strockis said. “It’s a wonderful resource for community relations.”
Strockis expects Bandit to be a great resource in a variety of situations, including retail theft incidents in which offenders have children with them.
“We can use Bandit to stay with the children for their comfort,” Strockis said, adding that a December 2021 shooting at Oakbrook Center also would have been a great time to have had Bandit.
“There were a lot of traumatized workers there,” Strockis said. “Having a dog like this will be very helpful in a lot of different situations.”
Strockis said he immediately took to Bandit after the dog’s arrival in Oak Brook.
“Bandit is the perfect fit for this department,” he said. “He brings such joy and puts a smile on everyone’s face.”
Bandit graduated from a two-week basic obedience training class, said Oak Brook police officer Katie Yager. She said officers have continued to work with Bandit on verbal and nonverbal commands.
“That allows him to become familiar with several voices and department personnel,” Yager said. “Bandit is amazing. He is constantly working, as he lifts the spirits up of everyone around him.”
Bandit lives at the Oak Brook Police Department, inside the Butler Government center, where he has a large courtyard outside for exercise and play.
Yager said the police department has a small committee that is committed to Bandit’s well-being and training; however, the entire department is trained in his obedience.
Community Service Officer Mike McTighe has been very impressed with Bandit.
“For being such a young dog and only working with him for a short period of time, he follows commands and is eager to continue learning,” McTighe said.
While most of Bandit’s focus will be in Oak Brook, he already has helped elsewhere.
“Bandit’s training was put to the test while attending the wake of Chicago Police Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso,” Yager said. “Bandit brought comfort to those waiting to pay their respects to a fallen hero. Bandit received many compliments on his manners, for being such a young pup.”
Yager said interested people may follow Bandit on Instagram at @Pawfficerbanditk907.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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