K9 Bryx – Sarasota, Florida

Died – 3/6/21
Handler – Deputy Chris Indico

Sarasota sheriff’s office mourns the loss of K-9 Bryx

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of their K9s. K9 Bryx was laid to rest Saturday after a nearly 9-year battle with Leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease found in parts of the tropics and southern Europe that is transmitted by sand flies. The sheriff’s office said Bryx was born in Germany in 2012, and served alongside his handler, Deputy Chris Indico, since July 2013. Bryx was a dual purpose K9 trained in narcotics detection, tracking, building and area searching, and criminal apprehension, the agency said. In 2019, Bryx took first place in the “Hardest Hitting Dog” category at the Florida Gulf Coast K9 Competition. “It is difficult enough to lose a pet but when your pet is your partner and protects you in one of the most dangerous professions out there, it is especially hard,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “Please keep the Indico family in your thoughts.”

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.