K9 Eik – Sioux, Iowa

Died- 8/20/15
Past Handler – Sgt. Jay Fleckenstein

Sioux City police K-9 Eik euthanized, suffered from cancer

Four months after the Sioux City Police Department officer he worked with died of natural causes, K-9 Eik has been put to sleep. The police dog, a solid-black Belgian malinois, was suffering from cancer. Sgt. Jay Fleckenstein had been Eik’s handler for six years. Fleckenstein, 39, died of natural causes at his home April 17. One week later, a member of Fleckenstein’s family bought Eik for $1, after the police department retired the dog. On Friday, Sgt. Jim Cunningham of the Sioux City Police Department said Eik was euthanized Thursday after a battle with cancer. “It’s rough for everybody who knew Jay or Eik,” said Cunningham. “It’s very sad. He was a good dog,” said Police Chief Doug Young. “He was a member of this police department, and he will be missed.” The department bought Eik in 2009 from Fleckenstein, who had raised and trained the dog since he was a puppy. The purchase agreement had included an option that the family would be able to buy him back if Fleckenstein left the department for any reason. A police spokesman in April said that given Eik’s age and the time required to recertify him for service with another handler, retirement was the most appropriate and humane choice.

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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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