K9 Santos – Wake, North Carolina

Died 5/26/23
Wake County K9 accidentally killed by Knightdale officer

A Wake County K-9 was shot and killed while searching for a suspect with his handler, a sheriff’s deputy, early Friday morning. K-9 Santos, a German shepherd, joined the Wake County Sheriff’s Office in 2016, making him the longest-serving K-9, according to the sheriff’s office.The K-9 and his handler were called to help Knightdale police search for a suspect near N. Smithfield Place at about 12:30 a.m. “While our deputy, K-9, and a Knightdale police officer were tracking, K-9 Santos was fatally wounded,” the sheriff’s office said. K-9 Santos was rushed to the emergency clinic at N.C. State University’s Veterinary Hospital, where he died. “He gave his life to ensure the safety of our deputies and the residents of Wake County,” the sheriff’s office said. “We thank him for his loyalty and service.”Deputies say their K-9s are part of their law enforcement family, and they are mourning the loss of K-9 Santos. “The entire sheriff’s office family is heartbroken,” deputies said. The sheriff’s office did not say who they believe shot K-9 Santos.

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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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