K9 Chico – Mesa, Arizona

Died 1/9/17

Mesa police K9 officer Chico dies after cancer diagnosis

Chico, a police dog who worked with the Mesa Police Department for five years, has died of cancer. The loss is especially painful because he was scheduled to retire with his handler in May, officers said. The dog was diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer just last month. “His health declined to the point his handler had to make the choice none of us like and dread,” the department said. Chico served in two capacities – as a patrol and bomb dog. During his time with Mesa Police, Chico assisted in 226 area searches, 218 building searches and 73 SWAT calls. He had 16 finds and 28 surrenders. As a bomb dog, he went to 61 incidents.Travelers at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport may have seen him. He was there 170 times. “K9 Chico was a loyal and faithful partner who loved going to work,” the department said. “He was a sporty dog who won the Top Dog award at the Desert Dog K9 Trials.”Mesa Police ended its post by writing, “Run and be free K9 Chico. K9 Nord, K9 Duke, and K9 Lindsay are waiting for you.”

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Submitted By Jim Cortina

James A. Cortina has been involved with police dogs since 1972 and currently on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Jim has been appointed as Treasurer since its inception in 1991. Jim is one of the charter members of the C.P.W.D.A. organization. Since 1975 he has been a certified professional dog trainer and received his Master Trainer Certification in 1985. During his career he has provided armed K-9 strike crowd control for security agencies in Connecticut and out of state security companies. In conjunction with other members of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Board of Directors, he helped to draft Connecticut Statute 53-247(e) "Intentional Injury or Killing of Police K-9" which was passed by the Senate in 1993 and also assisted in implementing the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award in 1992. In 1993 he helped coordinate the North American Police Work Dog Association Nationals in New London, Connecticut. He was appointed Training Director for the New London County Work Dog Association from 1985-1987. He performed decoy work for Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. in police K-9 demonstrations, trained several local police department canines, and coordinated training workshops for out-of-state police departments. He participated in the United States Police K-9 Association Trials in Croton on Hudson, New York in 1985 as a decoy. He is an avid photographer and received photography awards in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and currently takes photographs for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc.
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