K9 Nitro – Millville, New Jersey

Died – 11/6/17
Handler – Officer William Loteck

Last ride for retired Millville K-9, Nitro euthanized

Police escorted retired Millville K9 “Nitro” Monday morning to an animal hospital where the ailing German shepherd was euthanized, according to a departmental statement. Nitro had retired on March 31, 2014 from police work. He lived with his former partner Officer William Loteck and his family. Loteck still is on the Millville police force although no longer as a K9 officer. The department said Officer John Butschky, a K9 officer whose dog Hannah recently died, orchestrated a last ride for Nitro and Loteck in their former patrol vehicle. Nitro was bred in Czechoslovakia and was 16 months old when he joined the Millville police force in January 2009. The German shepherd and Loteck had graduated together from a course run by Camden County Police Academy and the New Jersey Police K-9 Association. Nitro was taken to Wilwynn Animal Hospital in Hopewell Township to be euthanized.

K9 Nitro was sworn in July 1, 2010 with the Allen County Police Dept. In May 2017 Nitro suffered a flipped stomach after a hard day of training. Nitro survived the surgery after months of recovering and returned to work. On Nov. 7, 2017 Nitro’s intestines twisted and he passed away before making it to surgery.

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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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