K9 Nicko – Ingham County, Michigan

Died – 6/9/16
Handler – Deputy Chad Doyle

Ingham County Sheriff K9 officer Nicko dies after surgery

The Ingham County Sheriff’s department has announced that one of their K9 officer dogs, NICKO , has died after complications from surgery. Lt. Gene Wriggelsworth made the announcement on Friday, June 10, 2016. He said that NICKO passed away on June 9, after undergoing surgery for Colonic Torsion. NICKO was 6 years old and had been a member of the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office for 5 years. NICKO worked on police patrol and also on explosion detection. NICKO was partnered with Deputy Chad Doyle, and both were members of the Ingham Regional Special Response Team. NICKO assisted every police agency in Ingham County, and also worked with the FBI, DEA, US MARSHALS and Homeland Security with Fugitive Apprehensions and Explosive Detection Sweeps. He also assisted the Secret Service with a presidential detail, and conducted demonstrations for local children.

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.