The Mundelein Police Department announced it was with “great sadness” that Titan, its first canine in the past half-century, has died following his retirement in 2022.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Titan, the Mundelein Police Department’s first K-9,” the department said in a statement Tuesday.
Titan retired from duty in April 2022 after serving as Mundelein Police Department Sgt. Steve Kroll’s dedicated partner and companion since 2015.
Titan’s impact on the Mundelein community was “significant” and he set high standards for all who would follow in his footsteps, the department said.
“Titan’s skills, abilities, and productivity were admired and respected by his peers,” police officials said.
Titan was adored by the community despite his intimidating bark and bite, the statement said, adding that he was a great ambassador for the department.
Titan was purchased from the village by Kroll for $1 after his retirement and transitioned to a family pet.
“Titan’s service to this community will never be forgotten, and he will be greatly missed,” the police department said.
Titan, who was the department’s first canine since 1970, was born on August 10, 2013, and began his first shift with the Mundelein Police Department on June 15, 2015, after completing 380 hours of initial training at TOPS in Grayslake.
Titan was certified in narcotics detection, obedience, building and area searches, article searches, obstacle course maneuvers, tracking and handler protection.
Titan participated in over 60 tracks which led to the successful recovery of evidence, suspects, victims and subjects with mental health conditions in need of assistance.
During the Polar Vortex in 2019, a victim of a crime had walked away from their residence with minimal clothing when the temperature was -20. Titan successfully located the subject.
Another notable track conducted by the canine was when he helped locate a person with mental illness who had committed a crime and fled to a wooded area.
Titan participated in over 100 canine demonstrations throughout Lake County during his career.
His deployments also led to the confiscation of over 40 illegal guns, 600 illegal pharmaceutical pills, 460 grams of cocaine, 144 grams of methamphetamine, 87 grams of heroin, 10,000 grams of cannabis products and other various drugs.