Mike is a current 26-year law enforcement veteran and 17-year veteran police service and working dog handler in the Chicago Metropolitan area. He has handled multiple dogs specialized in patrol, narcotic-contraband detection and human remains detection. Mike is currently a K-9 team sergeant for a multi-jurisdictional mobile field force, serving the Chicagoland area. He has more than 8,000-hours of training in law enforcement and police service dog operations.
Mike is the recipient of numerous awards from the Bartlett (Illinois) Police Department, the Cook County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois D.A.R.E. Officer’s Association.
Mike is the lead instructor for Sheepdog Guardian Consulting and maintains the most comprehensive canine legal website, “Canine Legal Updates and Opinions” and contributed to multiple magazines, and podcasts. He has taught and written about police service and working dog operations, industry standards and legal updates for over 10-years and studied under Terry Fleck, Ed.D.. Mike is a committee member with the Illinois Tactical Officer’s Association K9 Committee (Subgroup: Patrol K9) and former member with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Working Group Canine Compliance.
Mike is a certified instructor in the following disciplines:
Use of Force, Below 100, Non-Lethal Training Ammunition, Handcuffing
MEGITTS XVT, PPCT/Defensive Tactics, Firearms, Rifle/Carbine, OC Chemical Spray, Less Lethal Impact Munitions, Chemical Munitions Distraction Devices, Instructor Development, CEW
Mike has also consulted on cases in federal and state court and has worked with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board for a Subject Matter Expert content developer for a new Narcotic-contraband legal course initiative through the Executive Institute at Western Illinois University (requirement for all Illinois Narcotic-contraband Detection handlers, both new and renewal qualifications).
Mike brings a unique perspective to the police service and working dog legal update arena because he is not an attorney, but an active dog handler with a background as a former union chapter president and current designated officer-in-charge. He has dedicated his career to studying and researching use of force and K9 Legality.
