K9 Eso – Zionsville, Indiana


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Died 4/22/18
1st Handler – Officer Wayde Knox
2st Handler – Sergeant Kiefer

Zionsville Police Department K9 Eso Dies

Zionsville Police Department officials say K9 Eso passed away on Sunday, April 22 after suffering from multi-organ failure. According to city officials, Eso’s handler, Sergeant Brad Kiefer says that over the weekend Eso became ill and experienced seizures. City officials say the 7-year-old K9 was euthanized Sunday night surrounded by Sergeant Kiefer and his children. Eso, a Czechoslovakian Shepherd, served the agency since 2013 with two handlers: Officer Wayde Knox, who moved to another agency out of state, and Sergeant Brad Kiefer. However, Eso began his retirement in June 2017 due to increasing health issues. “Eso was a great addition to the agency,” said Chief Knox, in a release sent to Patch. “Unfortunately, he got sick and had to retire. I feel terrible for Sergeant Kiefer and his family because they have had to say goodbye to a beloved pet. And most of us know that is never easy. Eso was an outstanding partner to Sergeant Kiefer and Officer Wayde Knox while he served with the agency.”The Zionsville Police Department purchased Eso, a true Hoosier, from Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, IN. Officials say as a dual purpose K9, Eso’s specialties included handler protection, tracking and narcotics detection. Zionsville Police Department currently has two other K9 in service named Jelka and Thor, both also purchased from Vohne Liche Kennels.

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.