Animal Welfare News item | PAWS Chicago

The Chicago Joint Task Force Animal Crimes Unit

by Jaclene Tetzlaff | Apr 30, 2010

Fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves can be a dangerous job. But thanks to the Chicago Joint Task Force Animal Crimes Unit, more animal cruelty offenders have been arrested and convicted than ever before.

The Chicago Joint Task Force Animal Crimes Unit is composed of the people on the front lines who risk their lives everyday to help end dog fighting and close down puppy mills. One of the few in the country, the unit is comprised of members from the Chicago Police Department, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Typically, it would be hard for separate governmental departments to work together. But just a few years ago, Police Superintendent Jody Weis and Sheriff Tom Dart, both animal lovers, decided to proactively work to allocate more resources to this effort and train more officers to recognize animal abuse on the scene. With departments working together as a team, along with USDA Special Agent In Charge Joe Smith, the Task Force is able to bust more illegal operations at a quicker rate.

According to the USDA’s office, “Pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act, USDA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigates the potential criminal mistreatment of animals throughout the U.S., including investigations of animal fighting operations. OIG’s Special Agents work closely with State and local law enforcement authorities and participates in task forces to fulfill OIG’s statutory duties related to animal welfare. In fiscal year 2009 and the first half of fiscal year 2010, OIG’s animal fighting investigations nationwide resulted in 405 individuals being convicted.” 

When offenders can be charged on multiple counts, they can be put away with greater penalties. This is so important because these illegal operations often move around from city to suburb to rural area. Once they are out of one jurisdiction, a single department may be unable to infiltrate the ring. But that has changed thanks to officers cultivating sources and informants throughout all geographic areas. The team exchanges information, gets a search warrant, and all go in together, while following City, County, State, and Federal guidelines to ensure arrests and convictions. 

According to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, “Because these offenders tend to move around and conduct fights in cities, suburbs and rural areas, the collaboration of departments and exchange of information is absolutely critical to the success we have had so far. Though we come from different departments, our goal is the same – to end the abuse of animals. Every person involved in the unit works tirelessly and will continue to do so until we achieve that goal.”

Neglect, drugs, guns, and animal cruelty are usually associated. “Among the dog fighters we’ve arrested, at least 75% have a history of domestic violence and gang overtones,” says Sergeant Mark George of the Chicago Police Department and task force member. “If we can get these offenders on multiple counts, we can put them away with greater penalties.” 

Some of the unit’s success stories from last year include the break-up of major dog fighting rings in Kankakee, Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, and Maywood. In 2009, the Task Force executed 53 search warrants, made 91 arrests, and rescued more than 300 dogs from dog fighting operations, puppy mills, and overall neglect and cruelty. Currently, the Task Force is preparing several cases for federal prosecution. 

PAWS Chicago salutes all of you for all the great work you do to save innocent animals from the hands of vicious criminals.

 

Under the leadership of Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis, and USDA Special Agent In Charge Joe Smith, the Chicago Joint Task Force Animal Crimes Unit includes: 

 

  • Sergeant Mark George 
  • Police Officer Robert Foss 
  • Police Officer Mark Trost 
  • Police Officer Lisa Russell 
  • Police Officer Matthew Darling 
  • Police Officer Reginald Ward 
  • Cook County Deputy Sheriff Steve Davis 
  • Cook County Sheriff’s Police Officer Larry Draus 
  • Cook County Sheriff’s Police Officer Tyra Brown 
  • USDA Special Agent Michael Parrish 
  • USDA Special Agent Sal Gonzalez 
  • USDA Special Agent Joseph Golden