Police K9 units, also known as police dogs, are highly trained dogs that work with law enforcement to help keep communities safe.  While most humans encounter daily stress, how many, given the chance, would volunteer to face their extreme fears? To be a recipient of a violent act, to pursue violent perpetrators, to report on those who confront violence—willingly, courageously—this is the hero world of a working police K9 dog!

Deputy Aaron Davis is a 22year veteran of the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, currently assigned to LEB Patrol and the K9 Unit. He is partnered with K9 Xena, a 6-year-old female Chocolate Labrador Retriever.  Xena is trained to detect and alert to the odor of various Narcotics and the odor of Human Decomposition in all phases.

Xena was born in the Netherlands and came to America where she was imprint trained to her known odors at a kennel in Florida.  Xena, who at 14 months old, was paired together with Deputy Davis at the DuPage Couty Sheriff’s Office in January of 2020 as a new K9/Handler Team. They trained together daily for months to become very effective partners.   Upon successful completion of the Illinois State Narcotics Test, they were placed in service for the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office as a K9 Team.  Training is never “done” as they train a minimum of three days a month to keep our skills working together sharp.

Throughout their career together they have regularly assisted our Deputies from DuPage County in the Law Enforcement Bureau with locating Narcotics and Human Remains in various types of investigations, and Corrections Bureau with locating Narcotics in the Correctional Facility.  In addition, with the commitment of the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, it has been their mission to assist all Police Agencies throughout DuPage County and all counties inside Illinois, including federal agencies.  Their successful work has spread throughout the Law Enforcement Community; they have received requests for assistance from across North & Central Illinois and into Indiana.  Those requests have come from Federal Agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, FBI, and US Postal Inspectors, State Agencies including several Special Units of the Illinois State Police, IDNR Conservation Police, and the Illinois State Fire Marshalls, numerous County Sheriff’s Offices including Cook County and all of the surrounding Counties and many beyond, and more Municipal Police Agencies than could be named including the Chicago Police Department.  Every request received is always given top consideration, and thorough planning and execution to ensure the best possibility of success, whether it is a search for Narcotics on a traffic stop or an extensive search for the remains of a missing person.

During her work as a Narcotics Detection K9, Xena has assisted in the location and recovery of over 350 lbs. of cannabis, over 30 kilos of Cocaine, Heroin and Methamphetamine and pounds of Fentanyl and other Opioids that never made it on to the streets, as well as firearms associated with those crimes.  Additionally, Xena has assisted in the location and recovery of more than 4.5 million dollars in Narcotics Trafficking related currency.  Xena has been to O’Hare Airport to assist US Postal Inspectors and Illinois State Police with locating packages and luggage associated with Narcotics smuggling as well as HSI and DEA all over the Chicagoland area.

As a Human Remains Detection or “Cadaver” K9, Xena has excelled in that field.  Xena has located remains associated with Missing Persons, Suicides, Homicides, as well as Accidental and Natural Deaths.  Early in their career as a K9 Team, Xena and Deputy Davis assisted Chicago Police Marine Unit with a search for a Missing Person in the Chicago River.  With their assistance the subject was subsequently located buried in mud in over 20 ft of water.  This success led to CPD having confidence in using a Cadaver K9 , and have since been requested numerous times by both CPD Marine Unit and Detectives from Missing Persons and Homicide Units, leading to subjects being located as well as evidence from victims in Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, as well as dismembered homicide victims and a homicide that was attempted concealed by burning the victim.  Xena has located subjects that have been buried, burned, submerged and otherwise concealed, as well as the simpler task of locating deceased subjects in Check of Well Being situations.  To date Xena and Deputy Davis have over 35 Human Recovery finds that have helped families with closure.

When not on a search or recovery mission, Xena and Deputy Davis attend numerous community functions, including National Night Out, Sheriff’s Safety Saturday, block parties, school demos, Citizen Police Academies, Boy Scout / Girl Scout meetings, and anywhere else the community requests. Xena is also well liked at several Dispatching Centers in DuPage County, bringing relief to many Dispatchers stressful days.  Xena’s non-aggressive and mild temperament makes her a favorite at community events, and very popular with children.  At home, Xena has two sisters that she loves to play with and is always in line for snacks, ice cubes or to share a banana or piece of cheese.  K9 Xena and Deputy Davis are always together strengthening their bond, so that they can serve the public to the best of their abilities with their special skill set.

To Deputy Davis, Xena has earned the nick name of “The Goodest Good Girl” and he is proud to be her partner. 

He was a dual purpose K9 trained in multi-functions.  He and his handler Lake County Deputy John Forlenza shared a 9-year career together.  In March of 2024, K9 Dax was injured while apprehending a person who had committed several felonies and was fleeing. K9 Dax injured his neck and spine, which resulted in temporary paralysis to his hindquarters.  K9 Dax went through intensive physical therapy following the injury, allowing him to regain the ability to walk and use his hind legs.

K9 Dax’s team of veterinarians determined that, for his physical wellbeing, he would not be able to return to active duty.  K9 Dax retired in Spring of 2024 and sadly he succumbed to those injuries – K9 Dax E.O.W. 4-12-24.

There is way more to K9 Dax’s story and his journey with Deputy Forlenza! He was a HERO, and you can learn all about his amazing career with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office when you click on the Dax’s Story button below.

Dax gave everything he had to being a police canine.  He loved every aspect of it, especially finding and sometimes biting an offender. Part of what made Dax so successful was his gentle nature.  Dax was never a mean dog; he was always relaxed around people he didn’t perceive as a threat.  Dax liked and was very calm around other animals. Our cat Mittens is by far his favorite.  But that calm nature paired with the proper training made him an exceptionally confident and tough dog.  Dax always had the ability to adjust his level of aggressiveness to threats he faced during his career.  Many offenders simply gave up without a fight because of his formidable warning bark and appearance (he’s so good looking).

I have loved being his best friend and handler for the last nine years. That time has gone by so fast.  I wish I took more time to enjoy the little things during his career that looking back seem so much bigger now.

I’ll miss doing demonstrations with Dax, especially for school children.  The look on their faces when they watched him and their thoughtful questions about him always made me smile.

I will miss training Dax with Alex and the TOPS crew and Rolando.  I’ll miss taking Dax with Alex, Rolando and Todd across the country to certifications, trials, demonstrations and shows.  We will miss being around the other handlers and their canines.

Dax was selected as a well-deserved 2019 American Humane Law Enforcement/Arson Hero Dog.  Click on the image above to play the full video!

Click the image to learn more about Fox News new Hero Dog series featuring DAX!

Meet the Lake County Sheriff’s Office K9s. Click the image above for an introduction to Dax and his K9 partners!

Fox 32 Chicago’s TOP DOG story about another crime solved by Deputy John Forlenza and K9 Dax! Click the image above to watch the video!