City’s K-9 cop is a ‘Superdog’

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By DIANE STRAND GENOA - It’s a dog’s life. And he loves it. Genoa’s popular canine officer Frank is an all black Czechoslovakian Shepherd who’s warm and playful, even at a preschool - until he’s in the police car with his handler, Officer Tim Hoffstead. One staffer at the department said she doesn’t want to be close to the squad car when Frank turns into “Superdog.” Hoffstead and the handsome animal, who came to the United States from the Czech Republic when he was just a pup, are like family and reside together, along with the officer’s wife. (He said she loves Frank, too.) Hoffstead was passionate about getting a canine corps for the Genoa Police Department for a couple of years before Frank was hired on, in October 2006. “We received him fully trained,” Hoffstead said, “and then I went to Michigan to get him and spent a month training with him.” Both man and dog now work a 12-hour shift. Whereas Hoffstead counts on his salary, Frank gets no treats except one - a special toy he receives when he finds drugs; or a dead body. Hoffstead elaborated: “In January 2007, the P.D. got a call from North Aurora police asking if they could borrow Frank. A suicidal person left his house with a gun, and was missing. Frank found the man’s glasses, hat and sweatshirt by the Fox River, but he didn’t find the man himself. So he didn’t get his special toy. No doubt wanting to keep his credibility, Frank then jumped into the river and located the body.” More frequently, however, he sniffs out drugs in vehicles, and it wasn’t by happenstance that Genoa police got their own canine cop. “I did a lot of research,” Hoffstead said. “I made a proposal to the city council that we could acquire a dog without any additional cost to the city, that we would pay the cost from donations.” Then the fundraising began, an ongoing process, because Frank is not a cheap date. He has food allergies and his special food costs $100 per month. “The total cost during the first three months was almost $29,000,” Hoffstead said. “Frank himself was priced at $14,750. Veterinarian services are donated, but the food supplier backed out.” Then there was outfitting the car, a Dodge Magnum, with a cage and other dog-related apparatus. “It has a heat sensor and bailout system, based on the temperature in the car,” Hoffstead said. There is also a button that, when pressed, allows Frank to “come out and save the day.” Hoffstead said public response has been amazing. “What really hit me in the heart was when Genoa-Kingston Middle School students conducted fundraisers and presented the police department with $500,” Hoffstead said. The following year, they came up with another $500, which earned them a place on the back of Frank’s police car. Sponsors who donate $1,000 or more are immortalized on the trunk of the canine car. Hoffstead said Frank is a very social dog. “I can take him into First Friends Day Care with 2- and 3-year-olds,” he said. “The kids love him and crawl all over him.” But, no one is perfect and neither is Frank. Hoffstead recalls one traffic stop when the dog spent a lot of time digging under a back seat. “He finally pulled his head out and there was a french fry in his mouth.” But that’s the only misstep in Frank’s two years of service for the city; a very good record. Sgt. Ty Lynch said costs are ongoing with Frank, so the department appreciates donations. The $1,000-or-more donors include: Genoa Animal Hospital, Larcal Decal, Sycamore Welding, AT Cyber Systems, the DeKalb County Community Foundation, Helen Fowler, Wal-Mart, Briody Enterprises, G-K Fire Department, Installation Services Inc., National Bank & Trust and Greenlee Textron. Many others have contributed smaller amounts. To learn more about how to donate to Officer Frank’s care, contact the Genoa Police Department at 815-784-2526.