In Loving Memory of
K9 OMAR
2001 - February 08, 2009

Geneva K-9 officer died in his sleep Sunday, partner says  
When Omar the police dog paused at a traffic stop, when he alerted to the presence of drugs on a suspect or when he defended is partner while on duty, Officer Chris Cahill was grateful. When Omar jumped out of the car after a long day at the Geneva Police Department and curled up on the floor next to Cahill’s chair, Cahill was grateful. On Sunday morning, Omar, an 8-year canine officer with the Geneva department, died in his sleep, Cahill said.
“It is pretty devastating,” Cahill said. “It is like losing a member of the family.” The German shepherd suffered no major health issues “other than those common for a dog his age,” Cahill said. Omar was 10 years old and in active duty with the department. “I understand it is hard to lose a family pet,” Cahill said. “But you have to understand that I took this guy to work with me every day. He saved my butt quite a few times.” Cahill said the community supported Omar and the Geneva department’s canine officer program.
“He was the first canine officer with the department,” Cahill said. “So many people support this program; so many people supported the department’s need for canine officers.” Geneva Police Department also has canine officer Zip on the roster. Cahill said all Geneva officers — human and canine — will wear black mourning armbands, and city flags will fly at half-staff for the rest of the week. “Omar was a police officer,” Cahill said. “His death hit us all hard.”     submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA