K9 Falco – Gary Indiana

Died – 7/13/23
Handler – Corporal Angel Lozano

On-duty K-9 killed in Gary, Indiana shooting; man arrested

A man has been arrested after Falco the K-9 officer was shot to death in northwest Indiana on Thursday afternoon, police said. The Gary Police Department said the shooting happened during a foot chase just before 2 p.m., moments after the dog’s handler, 17-year veteran Corporal Angel Lozano, tried to pull over a suspect wanted for aggravated battery and criminal recklessness. Police said the suspect opened fire, striking 10-year-old Falco, an eight-year veteran with the department, in a backyard near East 35th Court and Tennessee Street. The officer involved in the foot pursuit was not injured, and a 29-year-old man was taken into custody. Neighbors told ABC7 they heard the shots from inside their homes. In his tenure, the Shepherd/Belgian Malinowski apprehended 1,000 violent offenders and found multiple missing children and endangered adults. Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies participated in a procession honoring the K-9 as his remains were transported to Hobart Animal Clinic. Gary police wouldn’t give information on the suspect as they said the Lake County Indiana Sherriff’s Department is handling the case.

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.