Recently retired Buffalo Grove police canine dies

A northwest suburban police dog who retired from service less than two weeks ago after cancer surgery has died, the police department announced Wednesday.

Saxon, who was five years old, had recently retired from the Buffalo Grove Police Dept. as the result of a cancer diagnosis and surgery to remove a tumor from his spleen, according to a statement from police.

He had served on the force from June 2011 until the diagnosis, and his retirement had been announced March 30.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Northern IL Police K-9 Memorial — on the grounds of Highland Memorial Park in Libertyville — and will be open to the public.

During four years of service, Saxon and his handler, Officer Danielle Baron, found more than 460 kilograms of cannabis and $250,000 during narcotics searches as part of about 500 investigations, police said.

Officer Baron was recently named the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club’s Police Officer of the Year, “in part for her work with Saxon,” the statement said.

Saxon was not just a drug-sniffing dog, however, and was often called in to help other communities in locating guns, missing people and cadavers, the chief said.

Donations may be made directly to the Northern IL Police K-9 Memorial in memory of Saxon by visiting www.policek9memorial.org.