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University Police

 

Pawfficer Therapy Dog Program

Illinois State University Police launched its first therapy dog in 2019. This highly trained, four-legged "Pawfficer" builds bridges between officers and the community, sharing unconditional love at safety, educational, and community events.

Meet Pawfficer Korg, the newest Pawfficer and member of the  department's Community Engagement Unit. After completing over 1,250 hours of training, he’s paws-itivly ready to serve the campus and beyond.

The Pawfficer program is made possible through the generosity of donors. As a token of our appreciation, donors who give a gift of $20 or more are thanked with an exclusive Pawfficer Korg challenge coin. Your support helps Korg continue sharing joy, compassion, and support with our campus and community. 

Pawfficer Korg lays on the ground, wearing K9 vest.

All About Pawfficer Korg

Find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Pawfficer Korg and the therapy dog program.

When did Pawfficer Korg arrive? 
Pawfficer Korg's first visit to our department was on March 21, 2025, during which he graduated from his "academy," SIT Service Dogs. Korg is now proud to call ISUPD his fur-ever home.

Who trained the Pawfficer? 
SIT Service Dogs, based in Ava, Illinois, trained Pawfficer Korg —just as they did for Pawfficer Sage. These dogs complete over 1,250 hours of certified training to prepare for their role in serving our campus community.  

Where can I see more pictures? 
Follow along with Pawfficer Korg's training and adventures on campus through Instagram and TikTok at ISUPolice. 

What skills does Pawfficer Korg have? 
Like Sage, Korg is a therapy dog, trained to provide comfort, build community, and spread unconditional love. He does not have drug detection or apprehension training. 

How can I request to meet with Pawfficer Korg?
Registered Student Organizations and Departments can request a meet-and-greet with the Community Engagement Unit and the Pawfficer by filling out a form on our website or through the Safe Redbirds App. Due to high demand, we appreciate your patience and flexibility when scheduling. 

Where does Pawfficer Korg live? 
Pawfficer Korg is a facility dog. He lives at the police department, provided his own living space, toys, and 24/7 care. 

Does Pawfficer Korg attend events around campus?
Absolutely! During the 2025-2026 school year Korg attended over 220 events, sharing his joy with more than 12,000 people. You can keep track of the CEU's schedule and whereabouts on Korg's Instagram account, ISUPolice. We will also post all events hosted by our department on Redbird Life.

We are a police department interested in a therapy dog program. Who can I reach out to for more information?
Please contact Sergeant Mike Gardner, who oversees our Community Engagement Unit. He'll start the conversation and connect you with a few of our team to talk process, marketing, and budget. We'd love you to come visit and ride-along with Pawfficer Korg!

  • Pawfficer Sage.

    Pawfficer Sage

    She's the certified good girl who started it all.

    Pawfficer Sage proudly served as our first ever Outreach K9 from 2019 until her well-deserved retirement in 2024. After completing over 1200 hours of specialized training with SIT Service Dogs in Ava, Illinois, she joined Illinois State University Police thanks to the support of a successful Hatch fundraising campaign. Whether she was curled up under a blanket in the Deputy Chief's office or out building relationships with our Redbird community, Sage always found ways to brighten our days.

    Thanks to the incredible generosity of an alumna and our community, the 2021 Birds Give Back campaign funded the Susan, Darrell, Sadie, and Samantha Cameron Community Engagement Endowment. This endowment ensures that Illinois State University will always have an Outreach K9 to carry on the Pawfficer program. As an added bonus, donors who make a gift of $20 or more to the Endowment will receive an exclusive Pawfficer Korg Challenge Coin as a token of our appreciation. 

    Give to the Cameron Community Engagement Endowment