K9 Enzo – Santa Rosa, California

Died 5/24/23
Handler – Officer Nick Vercelli

Santa Rosa police K-9 dies from cancer

Santa Rosa police are mourning the death of one of their K-9s, which died of cancer Wednesday. Enzo, 5, had worked with Officer Nick Vercelli for three years, department officials said. The Belgian Malinois was sworn in around September 2020.Cross-trained in apprehension and narcotics detection, Enzo was “crucial” in several large drug trafficking cases, police said.
They included a March 2 arrest involving suspects with 6.6 pounds of methamphetamine. The suspects, residents of Bakersfield, were arrested on Hopper Avenue near Airway Drive. Police at the time said Enzo had sniffed out the meth in their vehicle. Police described Enzo as a friendly dog who loved interacting with people during community events. He also played tug-o-war with Vercelli and was nicknamed “Meatball.” “Our hearts and thoughts are with Officer Vercelli and his family as they grieve the loss of his partner, Police K-9 Enzo,” police said in a Facebook post. “Thank you for your service, Enzo.”

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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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