URBANA — Champaign County courthouse employees were in shock and mourning Tuesday for the loss of a co-worker.

Duke, the bomb-sniffing dog, died unexpectedly early Tuesday, after being on the job with handler Ken Haluzak for almost eight years. He had just turned 9 on Sept. 1.

The black and tan German shepherd’s job was to sweep the courthouse, inside and out, daily for explosives and firearms. An upset Haluzak relayed a message through his wife that he was not ready to talk about his partner’s loss. Duke lived with Haluzak and his family when he wasn’t working.

Haluzak’s immediate supervisor, Champaign County sheriff’s Sgt. John Carleton, said Haluzak told him early Monday that something was wrong with Duke and he planned to take him to the veterinarian. Duke had done his usual early-morning courthouse sweep.

“The vet kept him for the day and Ken picked him up after his shift and took him home,” Carleton said.

Noting that Duke still wasn’t himself, Haluzak took him back to the vet.

“The vet performed some sort of emergency surgery and he didn’t make it through the night,” said Carleton, who wasn’t certain what the vet believed was wrong. He said the vet contacted Haluzak some time before 7 a.m. that Duke had died.

Duke’s loss was the talk of the courthouse staff Tuesday.

“We’re losing a very important part of the division,” said Lt. Greg Mills, who supervises the 13-member court security officer team.

“He loved us,” added Michelle Mennenga, a court security officer for 13 years. “He was very protective of Ken. He didn’t want to be separated from Ken.”

Judge Heidi Ladd, who along with Judge Tom Difanis was known to keep treats for Duke in their chambers, described the staff as “crushed.”

“Besides doing his job nobly, Duke was our companion and therapy dog.  He would make his courthouse rounds for milk bones and back scratches from his many fans, and everyone’s day would be made better after a visit from Duke.  Our hearts go out to Officer Haluzak, who lost his partner and best friend,” she said.

When Haluzak was assigned to other duties within the courthouse, Duke had his own kennel in the basement of the courthouse, complete with music.

“We turned the radio on so he had something to listen to,” Carleton said.
Besides his work at the courthouse, Duke was also routinely used to search for explosives and guns at home football games at Memorial Stadium. He even helped in the search for the guns used to shoot the late Tommy Martin, chief deputy for Douglas County who was shot in June 2007 while working and died about a month later.

“We’ve done tons of different things with him. We’ve been to many of the surrounding counties for bomb threats at schools,” Carleton said. “If there were big events, they would have him come search the facility.”

Duke was named by former Sheriff Dave Madigan in honor of his hero, John Wayne. Madigan used to keep a life-sized cardboard cut-out of the movie legend in his office.

Chief Deputy Kris Bolt said it was too early to tell if the sheriff’s office will replace Duke.