The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the passing of canine Diesel, who died of cancer on Saturday, just days before his eighth birthday.
Lake County Sheriff’s Spokesman Lt. Christopher Covelli said Diesel was recently diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.
The cancer was already in an advanced stage, Covelli said.
Diesel, badge number 2614, passed away Saturday in the company of his partner, Deputy Craig Somerville.
Diesel was seven years old and he would have celebrated his eighth birthday on Wednesday.
Diesel started his career in early 2015. He found dozens of missing endangered people, fleeing felons and contraband, Covelli said.
On a cold afternoon in November 2018, Diesel and Somerville found a missing boy in a water retention area in Round Lake Beach, saving his life.
Diesel also found and bit a wanted felon, who fled from police, hiding under a deck near Waukegan in March 2018.
In August 2020, Diesel located a man experiencing a mental health crisis near Barrington.
“Canine Diesel anxiously awaited every day for Deputy Somerville to open the squad car door, so he could go to work,” Covelli said.
Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “We are incredibly saddened by the sudden passing of Canine Diesel. Canine Diesel was a sworn member of our staff and added such tremendous value to our office and to the community.”
“His accomplishments throughout the years will never be forgotten and we will forever be grateful for his service to Lake County. Deputy Somerville lost the closest partner a deputy could have, and we mourn with him,” Idleburg added.