K9 Boris – Grand Rapids, Michigan

Died 6/13/22
Handler – Officer Todd Wuis

Retired GRPD K9 Boris passes away

Grand Rapids police announced the passing of one of its retired K9s.The Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) says Boris passed away Monday, June 13. We’re told he died peacefully at 11 years old.Boris was only a year old when he joined GRPD in April 2012, making him the youngest K9 GRPD enlisted at that time, police say. He retired in 2019. We’re told Boris earned national recognition after being shot at four times while tracking a suspect that was thought to have died. None of the shots hit Boris. GRPD says the incident earned Boris an award from the National Tactical Officers Association.“I know people have very strong bonds with their pets, but when that pet was also your partner, it’s on a different level,” says Officer Todd Wuis, who continued to care for Boris until he passed away. “Rest easy, good boy,” the department wrote on its Facebook page.

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.