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Police Canine DUKE was a 6 year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Field Services – Patrol Division: Unit 058 – Task Force Canine.

In 1985, K-9 DUKE and his handler, Patrolman Lawrence Rutili, conducted a search for a burglar in a grocery store. During the search K-9 DUKE ingested a piece of hot dog which was laced with, 1080, a poison for rodents. K-9 DUKE was taken to the David R. Lee Animal Care Center located at 2741 South Western Avenue. Doctors worked on K-9 DUKE from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. than night. They drew blood and sent samples to the University of Illinois and Northwestern University for analysis looking for an antitoxin, but there was no cure. They also tried flushing out his system and used antibiotics, but nothing worked. K-9 DUKE would later die.

The powdered poison that killed K-9 DUKE, known as 1080, was placed in the store by Charles Whitsett, who used it in an illegal exterminating business he operated out of his house located at 10909 South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Whitsett would dip slices of hot dog in the powder and scatter them across the floor. In August 1984, Circuit Court Judge Anthony J. Scotillo ordered Whitsett to stop operating King Exterminating and using the illegal poison. A few months later Whitsett was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $250 for using the poison. But soon after, Whitsett now operating under a new name, Empire Exterminating Service, continued leaving hot dog slices powdered with 10-80 also known as Sodium Flouroacetate. The poison claimed its first victim, Police Canine DUKE. The poison would also claim the life of Police Canine MAX II. After K-9 MAX was killed and 1080 was found at other sites, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office brought criminal contempt charges against Whitsett for allegedly disobeying the court order.

Police Canine DUKE received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department in March, 1979. He graduated from the Police Canine Training Academy in June, 1979.

K-9 DUKE was survived by his handler, Patrolman Lawrence Rutili.

Due to the exact date of the incident and death of K-9 DUKE being unknown, circa January 1, 1985 was used for the date of incident / death. Through research, The “Chicago Police Star Magazine – 1984, November – December“ issue mentions K-9 DUKE being alive and the next mention of him is in the “Chicago Police Star Magazine – 1986, January – February“ issue, noting his death. It is believed that the incident / death of K-9 DUKE took place sometime in 1985.

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Police Canine SIEGER, aged 9.5 years, was a 7 year, 7 month, 28 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Field Services – Patrol Division: Special Operations Group.

On May 14, 1979, at 2:30 a.m., K-9 SIEGER and his handler, Patrolman Ron Magro, responded to a call for a burglar alarm. They responded to Corner Liquor Store located at 45 East Garfield Boulevard. Upon arrival another Police Canine and his handler met them. They observed a side door to the tavern to be open. The owner of the tavern, whom lived above, came downstairs and opened the front door for the responding officers. The two dogs made their entry and began searching. During the search a trap door to the basement was discovered and K-9 SIEGER and his handler went downstairs to investigate. Once in the basement no one was found. It was at this time that K-9 SIEGER found some bread on a pan, which was laying on the floor. K-9 SIEGER began to eat the bread when his handler yelled for him to “ Drop it.“ However, it was to late for K-9 SIEGER, the bread was laced with poison, 10-80 also known as Sodium Flouroacetate, used to kill rodents. The poison is so toxic that it can kill humans if ingested. K-9 SIEGER and his handler left the scene. Hours later, K-9 SIEGER became listless. At 5:30 a.m. he began having convulsions. His handler rushed him to Hektoen Institute, a veterinary research unit at Cook County Hospital located at 627 South Wood Street. All efforts were made to save K-9 SIEGER; his heart stopped and was restarted. His kidneys also stopped functioning and were forced to function again. In the end though there was nothing that could be done for him and he passed away.

Police Canine SIEGER, born in 1969, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on September 16, 1971. He graduated from the Police Canine Training Academy on December 22, 1971. K-9 SIEGER was only six months away from retirement when he died.

K-9 SIEGER was survived by his handler, Patrolman Ron Magro.

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Police Canine REX III was a veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Operational Services – Patrol Division, Special Operations Group: Unit 058 – Canine Unit.

On February 13, 1979, K-9 REX and his handler, Patrolman Ronald Ganzer, conducted a search of a food store located at 315 East 47th Street. During the search K-9 REX ingested a meat patty which was laced with poison for rodents.

K-9 REX was survived by his handler, Patrolman Ronald Ganzer.

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Police Canine CAESAR, aged 4.5 years, was a veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Operational Services – Patrol Division, Special Operations Group: Unit 058 – Canine Unit.

On February 14, 1972, K-9 CAESAR and his handler, Patrolman James Roser, responded to a manhunt for a suspect wanted in connection for a shooting of an 11th District – Fillmore Patrolman. K-9 CAESAR and Officer Roser arrived at Presentation Catholic Church, 758 South Springfield Avenue. Also responding were Police Canine ROBO and his handler Patrolman Richard Ehrmann. Upon arrival K-9 CAESAR and K-9 ROBO were released into the church by their handlers and began searching to rout out possible suspects. The dogs were searching the ground floor when K-9 CAESAR darted up a flight of stairs into the choir loft. K-9 ROBO followed him upstairs and both dogs continued the search. The dogs were jumping from seat to seat in the loft when K-9 CAESAR apparently mistook the solid wooden choir railing for another tier of seats and jumped over it. He plunged 40 feet into the pews below. K-9 CAESAR was rushed to the a hospital where he succumbed to internal bleeding he sustained in the fall.

The manhunt was being conducted for Frederick Gage, age 17, a one armed boy who had shot Patrolman Henderson Arnold. Officer Arnold was assigned to the Presentation Community Center at 3906 West Lexington Street to provide security for a dance in uniform. Officer Arnold broke up a fight between members of the Four Corner Hustlers and as he escorted the scufflers out the front door shots rang out from in front of the building and he was struck in the foot and arm. Officer Arnold was taken to Illinois Research Hospital in serious condition, and later made a full recovery.

Police Canine CAESAR was born in 1967.

K-9 CAESAR was survived by his handler, James Roser.

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Police Canine KIRK, aged 9 years, was a veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Operational Services – Patrol Division, Special Operations Group: Unit 058 – Canine Unit.

On December 3, 1970, K-9 KIRK and his hander, Patrolman Gerald Burke were on patrol looking for Horace Ruth, 23, who had just robbed a Southside diner. While touring the area, Officer Burke heard a noise and unleashed K-9 KIRK. K-9 KIRK then apprehended Ruth after a rooftop chase in a vacant lot located at 7402 South Dorchester Avenue. When K-9 KIRK caught Ruth he grabbed a hold of Ruth’s upper right leg. It was at this time that Ruth shot K-9 KIRK through the throat. K-9 Kirk screeched in pain and went limp bleeding profusely from his neck. By the time Officer Burke caught up to his partner, he was found laying beside Ruth in the vacant lot. Ruth was also shot in the vacant lot by responding officers and succumbed to his wounds. Ruth’s weapon was not recovered at the scene, however it was believed that Ruth threw the weapon away before he was shot.

Police Canine KIRK was born in 1961.

K-9 KIRK was survived by his handler, Patrolman Gerald Burke.

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