Public ceremony planned for popular La Salle drug dog

You can say goodbye to a police dog that stopped many drug dealers while also entertaining hundreds of kids in the Illinois Valley.  A tribute to La Salle K9 Justis will be at 6pm Friday at La Salle City Hall. The 10-year-old Belgian Malinois died Tuesday night from pancreatic cancer.

His handler Brian Zebron says Justis was a very social dog and felt people he may have affected besides just fellow officers would like to remember his life. Despite being sick, Zebron says Justis was successful in finding drugs the night before he died.

During his career he’s credited with helping to find $13 million worth of drugs and drug money in the Illinois Valley.

La Salle Police Department loses a drug dog

Officers from across the Illinois Valley are mourning the death of La Salle K9 Justis.

His handler Brian Zebron says Justis died last night from pancreatic cancer. He says Justis was so strong that he didn’t even show signs of cancer until the very end. In fact he was successful in finding drugs the night before he died.

The 10-year-old Belgian Malinois started working with Zebron in 2008. During his career he’s credited with helping to find $13 million worth of drugs and drug money in the Illinois Valley.