Donation Honors Memory of Retired Oak Park Officer, Supports Police Dog Mase
(City of Oak Park, May 22, 2018)
Oak Park, MI – The Oak Park Public Safety Canine Unit received two donations in memory of Retired Oak Park Public Safety Officer Bill Shuttleworth. Officer Shuttleworth’s family provided a monetary donation to the Oak Park Public Safety Department as well as a donation to Project Paws Alive, a nonprofit organization that provides vital equipment to law enforcement and first responders nationwide. They, in turn, used their donation from the Shuttleworth family to donate an AceWatchDogTM System, complete with a one-year AceK9 subscription, to the Oak Park Public Safety Department.
“Any time we receive donations in honor of someone we try and put that money back into their local community. In speaking with Bill’s wife, we learned of his involvement with the 
local canine teams and with her approval we contacted the Oak Park Canine Unit to inquire how we could best honor Bill’s legacy with this donation,” said Project Paws Alive President Cheryl Allen. “We were delighted to learn that we can leverage our partnership with AceK9 to provide this vital AceWatchDogTM system to Canine Mase.”
Officer Bill Shuttleworth joined the Oak Park Public Safety team on January 24, 1973 and retired on January 22, 1999 after 26 years of service. He was a decorated officer and highly regarded by the Department. During his tenure, he expressed an interest in the creation of a canine unit and for the development of a citizens’ academy. Sadly, Retired Officer Shuttleworth passed away on March 8 of this year.
“We wish to express our sincere condolences to Officer Shuttleworth’s family,” said Public Safety Director Steve Cooper. “We are honored to receive such a generous and thoughtful 
donation in his memory.”
The AceWatchDogTM system is a device manufactured by AceK9. It has a custom web application that communicates with the Department’s Hot-N-Pop Pro unit to alert canine handlers when the temperature in their patrol vehicle gets too hot for the canine’s comfort. The device also monitors the vehicle’s engine and the air conditioning system. Canines are often kept in their vehicles while their handlers are attending to business elsewhere. If the vehicle is too hot, the engine stalls, or the air conditioning system fails the AceWatchDogTM system will send information, warnings and alerts in the form of text messages, automated voicemails, and/or landline calls directly to designated phones, tablets or computers.
“Although Mase 
is very intelligent, talented and intuitive, he does not have the ability to inform us when he is too hot or too cold while on duty inside his vehicle,” said Public Safety Director Steve Cooper. “This wonderful device adds a layer of protection and assurance for our team that our canine counterpart is comfortable and safe.”
“We certainly appreciate the kind and generous donations from the family of Officer Bill Shuttleworth and our friends at Project Paws Alive,” said City Manager Erik Tungate. “Unbeknownst to most, there are many incidental but necessary expenditures that are required for the proper care of a canine who is charged with serving and protecting our community. With the support of organizations like Project Paws Alive and through thoughtful donations by families such as the Shuttleworth’s we are able to secure a higher level of safety for our team. We are very grateful.”
