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Geneva police welcome ‘Tommy,’ comfort dog sworn in to support officers and community
Summary
The Geneva Committee of the Whole introduced and ceremonially swore in Tommy, a comfort dog placed with the Geneva Police Department by Healing Hearts Comfort Dogs. Volunteers who raised and trained Tommy described his background and early deployments; police said Tommy has already been used to calm a shaken child at a vehicle accident.
The Geneva Committee of the Whole ceremonially introduced and swore in Tommy, a comfort dog assigned to the Geneva Police Department, during a special meeting. Community volunteers who raised and trained Tommy and representatives of Healing Hearts Comfort Dogs described the animal’s training and early deployments and handed the dog to department staff for ongoing use.
The swearing-in came during the meeting’s first agenda item. Dave Yandell, the mayor and multiple family members and volunteers spoke about Tommy’s training, fundraising and early service. Eric Fields, a member of the family that raised Tommy, said, “We prayed for him so many, so many nights that he would find his purpose and his purpose would be to bless others.” Brad Kuntz, Geneva’s community service officer who will work with Tommy, said, “Tommy knows when he is truly called into service,” and described an incident in which the dog calmed a 5-year-old girl at a car crash.
Healing Hearts Comfort Dogs, based in Tinley Park, Illinois, raised Tommy in volunteer puppy-raiser homes beginning at eight weeks of age and trained him through roughly a year and a half of staged experiences, the organization’s volunteers told the committee. Volunteers said the group places facility dogs in schools, first‑responder agencies and other community settings; they described ongoing fundraising and donor-supported naming of dogs.
Police officials and organizers said Tommy will be used both with officers and in public-facing situations to offer “comfort and companionship,” as recited in the ceremonial oath. Committee members, volunteers and police staff noted planned visits with fire crews and school events and described Tommy as a resource both for residents and for department personnel.
No formal council action was taken during the swearing-in beyond the ceremonial oath and public remarks. The committee proceeded to the meeting’s next agenda item after the introduction and oath.
Tommy remained at the meeting and will be present for some future community engagements and internal department uses, according to staff remarks.
