K9 Reno – Riverview, Michigan

Died –
Handler – Detective Eric Thome

Retired Riverview police dog Reno dies; served city for six years

Although a dog’s life is short, this German shepherd devoted six years of his brief life protecting the community. “We are saddened to share that retired K-9 Reno has passed away,” the Riverview Police Department stated in a June 17 Facebook post. “He proudly served the city of Riverview from 2013 to 2019. Our sympathies go out to his handler Detective (Eric) Thome and family.” Reno retired early after being diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy, a condition that causes loss of coordination of the hind legs. He stepped down from the police force in April of 2019. But even with this incurable disease, Reno lived to the age of 9½. He died on June 3. “Having gotten Reno when he was 13 months old, Reno really never left my side, only boarding him once when the family went on a cruise,” Thome said. “Any trip that we took, Reno came with the family. Reno was a constant fixture in our house, with our three daughters, during his working years and even more so in retirement.” Thome said the loss has been difficult for the kids, but especially for he and his wife’s oldest daughter, who was born one month before they got Reno in 2013. “The amount of time a handler spends with his K-9 partner is immeasurable and the bond created is unlike any other,” Thome said. “I always tell people I spent more time with Reno than I did my own kids when Reno was working. After the Police Department posted about his passing, the outpour from the community has been immense. It just shows the impact that Reno made in the community during his tenure.”

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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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