K9 Ares – Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin

Handler – Sgt. Eric Giese

K9 Officer Ares of Mount Pleasant Police Department dies

The Mount Pleasant Police Department K9 Unit announced on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, the death of K9 Officer Ares. The Belgian Malinois served the Village of Mount Pleasant alongside Sgt. Eric Giese as team on the K9 Unit.Officer Ares began his career with the Village of Mount Pleasant Police Department in 2015. According to the village, “Sgt. Giese received and trained with Ares at American K-9 Interdiction in Virginia.” Ares was trained in apprehension, officer protection, narcotics, evidence location and tracking. In addition to helping the community, this dog was often involved in educational demonstrations and seen at community functions. The Mount Pleasant Police Department K9 Unit posted the following on their Facebook page: Our hearts are broken into a million pieces over the loss of one of the best. K9 Ares was such an amazing K9. We are so deeply saddened to share this news with you. Sgt Giese and K9 Ares were an amazing team that helped clean up and protect the streets of Mt Pleasant for over 8 years. A true loss to our department. We will miss you Ares. Thank you for all you have done. Rest easy.

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.