K9 Bico – Upper Macungie Township, Pennsylvania

Handler – Sergeant Matthew Gardner

Bico, Beloved Upper Macungie Twp. Police Dog, Dies In Retirement

A beloved police dog in Lehigh County has died, officials announced. Bico, a German Shepherd who worked in the Upper Macungie Township Police Department’s K9 unit for nearly a decade, passed away comfortably in retirement, authorities said on Facebook Tuesday, Nov. 1. Along with his handler Sergeant Matthew Gardner, Bico assisted in several drug busts and searches throughout his eight-year stint on the force, police wrote. Bico was known around town for his many appearances at community events, where he showed off his smarts and performed tricks with the help of Sergeant Gardner, the department said. During his second-to-last shift on the job, Bico helped police locate an elderly man who was suffering from dementia and lost in the cold, officials wrote. He retired just before his ninth birthday after suffering a herniated disk in his back, police said. Bico spent his twilight years at home with Sergeant Garnder and his family, enjoying some well-earned rest. “K9 Bico took great pride in serving the residents of Upper Macungie Township, and his hard-working nature and relentless drive earned him admiration and thanks from his fellow officers who worked alongside him,” the department wrote.

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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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