Christ Yoder
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Every shift before work, Carpentersville Police Officer Jason Caudle would call his partner, Blitz, alerting him that it was time to go to work.
“He got excited when I asked ‘Do you want to go to work,'” Caudle said. “He was running downstairs and waiting to get out.”
Blitz, a police dog patrol, died suddenly of bloat earlier this month. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. in front of the Carpentersville Police Department, 1200 LW Besinger Drive. The service is open to the community.
“It’s a huge loss,” Carpentersville Police Chief Patrick Hoey said.
Blitz, a German Shepherd imported from the Czech Republic, was trained to search for narcotics, buildings, areas and corpses. He was also trained to help find missing persons, apprehend offenders and protect his partner. Caudle and Blitz attended weekly training to maintain their certifications.
“He would do anything to protect me or other officers,” Caudle said.
Caudle said Blitz had been involved in numerous narcotics searches. Blitz and Caudle also often traveled to other departments to help with research.
“Jason and Blitz have not only served our departments, but also surrounding departments throughout the region,” Hoey said, adding that the duo also played a role in community relations and participated in various events throughout the village.
Hoey said an autopsy found Blitz died of bloating, a condition that occurs when a dog’s stomach fills with gas, causing the stomach to press and turn, cutting off blood flow. The condition can develop without warning and can progress rapidly. According to the American Kennel Club website, bloat kills approximately 30% of affected dogs, even after intensive treatment.
Caudle said Blitz, who would have celebrated his eighth birthday on Thursday, was a “happy and healthy” dog who showed no signs of trouble. Blitz was staying at a kennel at the time of his death, but Caudle said there was no evidence the kennel mishandled the dog.
“Sometimes there aren’t even times when you would know (a dog is bloating),” Caudle said.
In addition to his work with the Carpentersville Police Department, Blitz was part of the Caudle family.
During his off hours, he enjoyed snacking on his favorite dog treats and playing with Caudle’s other German Shepherd and his 8-year-old daughter.
“He was coming home from work and could relax,” Caudle said. “He was an integral part of our family.”
