Retired K9 Cop Crosses the Rainbow Bridge

The Oak Forest community lost a beloved, furry member Thursday, with the death of the ever-popular (now retired) Oak Forest K9 police officer Orry.

Orry’s handler Officer Jason Vodnik hung up his trusted partner’s collar in 2012, after six years together. Orry has been enjoying life with Vodnik and his family ever since.

“Officer Jason Vodnik were an unbeatable team for many, many years in Oak Forest,” Friends of Oak Forest Animal Control wrote on Facebook. His retirement “left a hole in our community.”

Orry was a crowd favorite, often offering local kids a tail wag and a chance at tug of war. He wasn’t only a police officer, but also somewhat of a public figure. The partnership was popular throughout Oak Forest—Vodnik rarely seen without his K-9 other half. Orry’s gifts included tracking criminals and sniffing out narcotics. He even once demonstrated his attack skills on your Oak Forest Patch editor.

Orry’s skills were superior—in just one example of his prowess, he was once lauded for a 275-pound marijuana bust in Markham and tracking a suspect to the basement of a home. The North American Police Work Dog Association honored Orry with an outstanding service award for successfully tracking an armed robber in Matteson, also helping to recover the shotgun used in the crime, which the suspect had hidden in a bush.

“These are some of the things you’ve got to take your picture, that’s your career photo,” Vodnik said back in 2012. “Once you get that, you don’t ever get something like that again.”

Rest in peace, Orry. Here’s hoping there’s lots of tug toys and kids to scratch your ears on the other side.