K9 Cigo – Palm Beach, Florida

Died – 12/24/18

Hero police dog killed while trying to take down murder suspect on Christmas Eve

A police dog was killed while trying to tackle a suspected murderer outside a shopping centre on Christmas Eve. K9 Cigo was in the middle of taking down suspected Latin Kings gang member The Mall in Wellington Green, Florida, when he was shot. The three-year-old German Shepherd was rushed to the vets but died from his injuries, Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office confirmed his death on Twitter, writing: ‘Our hearts are truly broken after a suspect shot and killed our K9 Dog tonight, on Christmas Eve. ‘He did his job, giving his life to save and protect our own.’ According to footage on Twitter, Cigo’s body was given a police escort from the vets. The officers also shared another video of the dog’s handler being comforted by colleagues after the shooting. Alongside it, they wrote: ‘The pain felt by #K9Cigo’s handler/partner is strong. Our prayers are with him tonight.’ Police were at the shopping centre following a tip off that two suspects wanted in a prior shooting were there. Officers were planning to arrest them in the carpark but gunfire broke out and one of the suspects shot K9 Cigo. The suspect also suffered a gunshot wound, while the other was taken to jail and one remains on the run, police said.

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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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