Sheriff John D. Idleburg and the Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Unit are excited to announce the names of the two newest sheriff’s canines.  

Between March 4 and March 25, 2022, Lake County’s Youth submitted their suggested names for the new canines.  Nearly 400 kids submitted their preferred name for the canines.

The names selected for our two newest canines are Canine Axel and Canine Echo.  Deerfield High School Sophomore Ethan Jacobs as well as Vernon Hills Hawthorn Middle School 6th Graders Matthew Prigorenko and Carson Alper selected the name Axel.  Millburn Elementary School Kindergartener Charlotte Regner selected the name Echo.  All four students will be invited to participate in K9 Echo & Axel’s swearing-in ceremony in late-June, following the completion of the initial training.  

Deputy Tyler Girmscheid was partnered with Canine Echo and Deputy Kevin Gauer was partnered with Canine Axel.  The two deputies and their new canine partners are completing an intense eight-week initial training program at Tops K9 in Grayslake.  The training consists of canine psychology, obedience, agility, tracking, scent detection, and more.

Sheriff Idleburg said, “We always enjoy getting the youth involved in various aspects of our office and I have to say, the names they submitted were terrific!  Some of the submissions had inspiring meaning behind the names and some of the submissions had us chuckling.  We are looking forward to having Ethan, Matthew, Carson, and Charlotte join us at their swearing-in ceremony.”

Canines Axel and Echo join their other sheriff’s canine partners Dax, Duke, Danno, Ryker, and Boomer to bring the total number of Lake County Sheriff’s Canines to seven.