K9 Nikk – Sacramento County , California

Died – 3/19/18
Handler – Deputy Ramie Folena

Sacramento County sheriff’s K-9 suffers stroke, dies

A Sacramento County sheriff’s K-9 was remembered Monday after he suffered a stroke and died while on duty, the sheriff’s department said. K-9 officer Nikk, 8, was having trouble standing Monday morning and his partner, Deputy Ramie Folena, noticed he had become lethargic. Nikk was rushed to the VCA Animal Hospital, where veterinarians determined he suffered a possible stroke, officers said. • Nikk died at 7:50 a.m. alongside Folena and was escorted out of the hospital with an American flag draped over his body as his K-9 and human partners lined the walkway. Nikk was trained and placed in service in December 2011 and was responsible for numerous felony apprehensions and participated in many demonstrations for children in the community, deputies said.

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.