OP Gives Official OK To Police Therapy Dog Program

Orland Park IL

06 August, 2021

3:54 PM

Description

By Jon DePaolis, Richard Free Press: ORLAND PARK, Ill. — A new therapy dog program has been approved for the Orland Park Police Department. The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees officially signed off on the program with a 7-0 vote Monday, Aug. 2. "I think it is a great program," Mayor Keith Pekau said prior to the vote. Trustee Sean Kampas agreed, stating that he "wholeheartedly" supported the program. "It's a win-win-win on multiple levels," Kampas said. The program was initially discussed at the July 19 Committee of the Whole meeting. At that meeting, Police Chief Joseph Mitchell said that having a therapy dog available 24/7 "would pay dividends." He also said studies have shown that a dog therapy program can help officers by: decreasing anxiety, reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, increasing undisturbed sleep, producing social interaction, and stimulating cognitive responses. With the approval, the police department will send an employee to Cocoa, Florida to be trained with an adopted therapy dog by a member of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office for a 40-hour course in September. There is no cost for the training or adopting the dog. The Orland Park Law Enforcement Organization already has pledged $5,000 to the department to cover the care and food for the therapy dog, and Trustee William Healy also noted during the Aug. 2 meeting that residents can donate. "It is my understanding … that we are still accepting donations for this program, so if anybody wants to give they are more than welcome [to]," he said. Village Manager George Koczwara said the Village will put information out to the public on how they can donate. Richard Free Press is a one-stop destination for the news that most affects you, the southwest suburban resident. Be an informed citizen of the town you live in and love.