ILETSB - Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification Program

A First-of-Its-Kind Certification for Law Enforcement Crisis Response Teams

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB), in partnership with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, has established the nation’s first CIT Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification Program for law enforcement and co-response teams.

This program provides standardized certification for trained therapy canine teams supporting crisis response, peer support, and community engagement—while reinforcing Illinois’ nationally recognized leadership in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training.

Request a Therapy Canine Team

Need a certified CIT Crisis Response Therapy Canine team? The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board in partnership with the Cook County Sheriff's Office now offer a single point of contact for requesting deployment across Illinois—whether you are responding to a crisis, planning a blue sky day, or anything in between.

📞 24/7 Call-Out Line: 773-67-4DOGS (3647), Option 9

📧 Email: CITIllinoisTherapyK9@Illinois.gov

Note: The callout line is monitored around the clock to ensure requests are routed appropriately, prioritizing critical response and accommodating other events as team availability permits.

News Release

👉 ILETSB Launches Dedicated 24/7 Line for Illinois’ State-Certified CIT Crisis Response Therapy Canine Program

Program Application

ILETSB is now officially accepting applications for the Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification Program.

👉 Download the Crisis Response Therapy Canine Team Application

Note: Please download the file to your computer before filling it out to ensure all interactive features function correctly. Completed applications should be emailed to Jennifer Wooldridge.

About the Program

The CIT Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification Program is a 24-hour (three-day) certification course designed for trained therapy canine teams operating in law enforcement environments.

The course includes:

Classroom instruction
Field training
Scenario-based, actor-led assessments
A final handler-canine team evaluation

The curriculum integrates CIT principles, co-response models, peer support strategies, and advanced handling techniques, ensuring therapy canine teams are prepared to safely and appropriately support individuals experiencing trauma or crisis.

Upon successful completion, certified teams are eligible for inclusion in the ILETSB mutual aid deployment system, allowing deployment during large-scale incidents and critical events statewide.

Who Can Participate

Law Enforcement Officers

To be eligible, officers must:

Have at least two years of experience post-basic certification
Have completed Illinois-certified CIT Basic training
Be assigned a canine owned or managed by a law enforcement agency
Use no muzzle or shock collar
Meet Board-approved background check
Be a certified, active officer assigned a canine owned or managed by a law enforcement agency

Civilian Co-Responders (Behavioral Health / Social Work)

Eligible participants must:

Have at least two years of professional experience
Serve as a co-responder under a formal agreement or MOU with a law enforcement agency
Have completed Approved CIT Basic or ILETSB’s Collaborative Crisis Co-Response Course
Be assigned a therapy canine under agency direction and oversight
Meet Board-approved background check

Law Enforcement Crisis Response Support Personnel

Eligible participants must:

Have at least two years working directly with law enforcement
Serve under a formal agreement or MOU
Have completed an Approved CIT De-escalation/Conflict Resolution Course
Be assigned a therapy canine under agency direction and oversight
Meet Board-approved background check

Canine Requirements

Participating canines must:

Have Canine Good Citizen (CGC)-level obedience
Be current on veterinary care and vaccinations
Have no prior training in aggression or apprehension
Use no muzzle or shock collar
Be owned, managed, or formally overseen by a law enforcement agency

Certification & Renewal

Certification is valid for one year
Annual renewal requires:
- A brief update course
- Reevaluation by an ILETSB-approved therapy canine assessor

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will this program train my dog to become a therapy dog?

No. All dogs must already be trained prior to participation. This program certifies existing therapy canine teams.

Does my dog need to come from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office Tails of Redemption (TOR) program?

No. Dogs do not need to originate from TOR to participate.

Is there a cost to attend the training or receive certification?

No. Training and certification are provided at no cost.

Do all participants have to be affiliated with a law enforcement agency?

Yes. All participants—law enforcement officers and civilians—must be listed on a law enforcement agency roster.

Can the three-day course be split across multiple sessions?

No. The program must be completed in one continuous three-day session.

When will applications be available?

Applications are now available. You can download the application at the top of this page or by clicking here.

Who should I contact with questions?

Jennifer Wooldridge
Deputy Director of Operations & State CIT Coordinator
📧 Jennifer.Wooldridge@Illinois.gov

Expanded Course Overview

Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification – 24 Hours

Day 1 – Foundations

CIT principles and trauma-informed response
Role of therapy canines in crisis and post-incident environments
Canine welfare and handler responsibilities

Day 2 – Applied Skills

Field training exercises
Team communication and deployment readiness
Peer support and co-response integration

Day 3 – Evaluation

Actor-led scenario assessments
Final handler-canine team evaluation
Certification review and next steps

Meet the Certified CIT Crisis Response Therapy K9 Teams

Trooper

Bio – A member of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board since April 2024. Trooper was rescued after being found tied to a pole in Cicero and later enrolled in therapy dog training through the Cook County Sheriff's Office's Tails of Redemption program. Trooper has traveled statewide, providing comfort and smiles wherever he goes.

K-9 Handler: Jennifer Wooldridge

Contact: Jennifer.Wooldridge@illinois.gov

Zilly

Bio – A Cook County Sheriff's Office therapy dog since 2019, Zilly has completed over 400 assignments. Her work includes comforting students, hospital patients, trial witnesses, and attendees at law enforcement funerals. She continues to bring comfort and smiles to those who need it most.

K-9 Handler: Jerry Roman

Contact: geraldo.roman@ccsheriff.org

Winston

Bio – Winston has been a certified therapy canine with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office since completing the inaugural CIT Crisis Response Training in April 2026. Working alongside handler Jacquelyn Hedderman, Winston provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Jacquelyn Hedderman

Contact:

Buddy

Bio – Buddy has been a certified therapy canine with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office since completing the inaugural CIT Crisis Response Training in April 2026. Working alongside handler Edgar Ortiz Antunez, Buddy provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Edgar Ortiz Antunez

Contact:

Winter

Bio – Winter has been a certified therapy canine with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office since completing the CIT Crisis Response Training in July 2026. Working alongside handler Kenneth Canada, Winter provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Kenneth Canada

Contact:

Joey

Bio – Joey has been a certified therapy canine with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office since completing the CIT Crisis Response Training in July 2026. Working alongside handler Megan Kinsella, Joey provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Megan Kinsella

Contact:

Grady

Bio – Grady has been a certified therapy canine with the Buffalo Grove Police Department since completing the CIT Crisis Response Training in July 2026. Working alongside handler Brian Spolar, Grady provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Brian Spolar

Contact:

Ghost

Bio – Ghost's story began in December 2024 when he was found abandoned in Cicero, Illinois, at just two and a half months old. He was later trained through the Cook County Sheriff's Office Tails of Redemption program. Ghost currently serves as the therapy canine for Mobile Training Unit (MTU) 7 serving Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford counties.

K-9 Handler: Brian Fengel

Contact: Brian.Fengel@icc.edu

Snow

Bio – Snow has been a certified therapy canine with Kendall County since completing the inaugural CIT Crisis Response Training in April 2026. Working alongside handler Stewart Blouin, Snow provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Stewart Blouin

Contact:

Charli

Bio – Charli has been a certified therapy canine with the Lake Villa Police Department since completing the CIT Crisis Response Training in July 2026. Working alongside handler John Baghdasarian, Charli provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: John Baghdasarian

Contact:

Sandy

Bio – Sandy has been a certified therapy canine with the Maroa Police Department since completing the CIT Crisis Response Training in July 2026. Working alongside handler Christopher Ware, Sandy provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Christopher Ware

Contact:

Toby

Bio – Toby has been a certified therapy canine with the Merrionette Park Police Department since completing the CIT Crisis Response Training in July 2026. Working alongside handler Anthony Velarde, Toby provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Anthony Velarde

Contact:

Jujube

Bio – Jujube has been a certified therapy canine with the O'Fallon Police Department since completing the CIT Crisis Response Training in July 2026. Working alongside handler Michael Mojzis, Jujube provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Michael Mojzis

Contact:

Holly

Bio – Holly has been a certified therapy canine with the Orland Park Police Department since completing the inaugural CIT Crisis Response Training in April 2026. Working alongside handler Gordon Przislicki, Holly provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Gordon Przislicki

Contact:

Petals

Bio – Petals has been a certified therapy canine with the Orland Park Police Department since completing the CIT Crisis Response Training in July 2026. Working alongside handler Daniel Minx, Petals provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Daniel Minx

Contact:

Chase

Bio – Chase has been a member of the SIUE Police Department since December 2024. He was rescued and enrolled in therapy dog training through the Cook County Sheriff's Office as part of their Tails of Redemption (TOR) program. Now serving as a certified therapy dog, Chase supports SIUE students by offering comfort and companionship throughout their college experience.

K-9 Handler: Curtis Schwartzkopf

Contact: loschwa@siue.edu

Max

Bio – Max has been a certified therapy canine with the SIUE Police Department since completing the inaugural CIT Crisis Response Training in April 2026. Working alongside handler Tyson Wagner, Max provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Tyson Wagner

Contact:

Louie

Bio – Louie has been a certified therapy canine with the Worth Police Department since completing the inaugural CIT Crisis Response Training in April 2026. Working alongside handler Mike Cozzi, Louie provides comfort, de-escalation, and peer support to both the community and law enforcement personnel.

K-9 Handler: Mike Cozzi

Contact: