Putting his paws up
BY ASHLEY THORPE
Writer
The McLean County Sheriff’s Department employs dozens of everyday heroes for the people of McLean County. In April of this year, one of those heroes headed into retirement, one paw at a time.
Heading into his tenth year of life, police dog Chance went into retirement after serving on the force since he was three. The labrador mix was found at a pound out of state and began his training as a single purpose dog in the field of sniffing out narcotics, namely marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine. McLean County Sheriff Jerry “J.R.” Kerzmann started as Chance’s first handler straight out of initial training, until Corporal Justin Cote-Kanning took over as his handler in November of 2014.
“Before I was Chance’s handler, I’d seen Chance work,” Cote-Kanning said. “J.R. had been on calls with me and used Chance, but I’d never worked directly with him. (K-9 handling) is something I’ve always wanted to do; it’s always interested me. I love dogs and I’ve always been interested in narcotics. When J.R. wasn’t able to continue (handling), he wanted to have someone take him who would.”
When Cote-Kanning became Chance’s handler, Chance had already been trained, so Cote-Kanning had to go do his own training to become familiar with the tasks that go along with being a K-9 handler. They both headed to Minnesota to be trained at Midwest Canine Alternatives, where the McLean County K-9 training takes place. Cote-Kanning had to get certified, while Chance went to get recertified.
