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Died – 3/5/17
Handler – Detective Jeff Wenzell
Retired Saginaw police dog Kilo remembered as energetic companion
The bond between a police dog and his handler is something few understand, something more than the relationship between owner and pet. The pair lives together, hits the beat together and trusts one another in dangerous situations. It’s that 24/7 relationship, said Jodi Wilk, executive director of the Saginaw Valley Police Canine Association, that makes loss all the harder. Saginaw Police Detective Jeff Wenzell lost his canine partner of seven years, Kilo, early Sunday morning, March 5. “He is taking it very hard,” Wilk said. “It was very obvious that Kilo loved his handler, and that Jeff loved him. He’d only work for Jeff.” Wenzell did not return calls for comment. When Kilo retired in September 2016 after Wenzell received a promotion, the dog remained at home with him. Kilo’s death from a health-related incident came as a shock to everyone who knew the 8-year-old police dog, that, as Wilk said, could’ve passed for a 2-year-old with all the energy he had. “He’s the one I thought for sure would be here the longest, because he had so much energy,” Wilk said. “I think Taz would’ve been a good name for him,” she laughed. “You know, like the Tasmanian Devil.” Kilo was born Nov. 8, 2008. When he was 13 months old, Wenzell and Kilo began training together. After six years of working the beat, Kilo retired and was replaced by fellow police dog Deebo. The Saginaw Police Department has three police dogs. The shining moment of Kilo’s career, Wilk said, was when he made a large marijuana bust several years ago. Wilk distinctly remembers the first time she met Kilo. It was her first time wearing a bite sleeve, and he was the first dog to test her mettle. “He’d come barreling at you, all 80 pounds of him and that can be quite a terrifying experience,” she said, laughing.At this time, no service or memorial is planned for Kilo. In the event there is one, it will be a small, private affair, Wilk said.
