JOSEPH ZIMERLING

TRAINER

Joe graduated from Lewis University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a double minor in philosophy of law & political
science. While at Lewis University, Joe was nominated as Vice President for the national scholastic honor society, Delta Epsilon Sigma. He also played collegiate rugby for the Lewis Flyers. In 2013, Joe was hired with the Orland Park Police Department where he attended the Chicago Police Academy and received the Most Outstanding Recruit award. Throughout his years assigned to the patrol division, he has received several awards and commendations to include; the Exceptional Service award, Alliance Against Intoxication Motorist Certificate of Appreciation for Exceptional DUI Enforcement, and a Unit Citation award.In 2018, Joe was granted the opportunity to be assigned to the department’s K-9 Unit. He was partnered with K-9 Maverick, and
>>> spent 5 weeks training under Jeff Schettler in Edisto Island, SC. K-9 Maverick is a dual purpose Hanoverian Hound trained in narcotic detection and trailing. Since being deployed in 2019, Maverick has located kilos of illicit narcotics, currency associated with narcotic distribution, fleeing felons, missing endangered, and evidence along trails. K-9 Maverick was assigned to a multi-agency stolen auto task force, and has been utilized by several Chicagoland agencies for both detection and trailing. After extensively training together since 2019, Joe partnered with fellow GAK9 trainer, David Paulus, to conduct a multi-agency training group, serving both law enforcement and fire personnel. Their training focuses heavily on trails that emulate real world deployments, to include; animal / human contamination, hard surface trails, vehicular traffic, scent pools, etc…Both David and Joe continue to conduct trailing / tracking seminars to better serve agencies and their K-9 units for real world deployments.