Handler: Keith LaManna
Breed: German Shepherd
DOB: 4/21/2015
Department: Waukegan Police Department
Function: Cadaver, Narcotics Detection, Patrol and Search and Rescue
Years Worked: 5 years

Hamlet von der Vierwindenhohe was born on April 21, 2015, in Weyerbusch, Germany. Hamlet was born into the kennel belonging to Dr. Katja Hohne from Weyerbusch. In 2016, Hamlet arrived at Tops Kennel in Grayslake to begin pre-training as a police K9. Hamlet was then paired with Waukegan Police Officer Keith LaManna, and the two embarked on the eight-week-long, Tops Kennels K9 training course. During the K9 training certification course, Hamlet became known as “Jax”. At the completion of K9 training, Jax and Officer LaManna proudly patrolled and served the residents of Waukegan.

During Jax’s career as a K9, Jax was certified in drugs, articles, and cadaver detection, along with tracking and protection work. Jax was responsible for locating illegal drugs, several guns, and quite a few offenders. Early on in Jax’s career, Jax performed a track for another Lake County, IL agency. The track was for a robbery subject, who had punched the female pizza delivery driver in the face before taking the pizza and money from the delivery driver. After tracking for approximately one hour, Jax located the offender hiding in a residence. Jax alerted Officer LaManna to the offenders’ presence at the residence by scratching at the door handle to the home. Proceeds for the robbery were located in the home near the offender.

In 2021, Jax and Officer LaManna retired from the City of Waukegan following a 5-year career as a handling team. Jax is currently enjoying retirement with retired Officer LaManna, and his entire family.