K9 Basil – Wyoming Highway Patrol

Died – 9/28/18
Handler – Trooper Barry Tippy

Retired Wyoming Highway Patrol police dog dies

The Wyoming Highway Patrol announced Friday that Basil, a retired K-9 drug dog, has died. Basil started working in the Green River/ Rock Springs area in 2008 and retired in 2017. During his nine-year career, he was deployed 473 times and sniffed out 720.4 pounds of marijuana, 122 grams of cocaine, 470.8 grams of methamphetamine, 93 grams of heroin and 1180.5 grams of other illegal narcotics, according to Wyoming troopers. In addition, Basil found 12 guns used in drug trafficking and helped confiscate $401,985 from suspected drug runners, troopers said. Basil was also well-known in Green River and Rock Springs for his demonstrations for civic groups and schools. His handler, Trooper Barry Tippy, said in a statement that the dog was an important partner. “I had the honor of being Basil’s handler. Basil taught me many life lessons. He taught me the meaning of the words; compassion, understanding, passion, humility, patience and lastly love. Basil helped me through dark days in both my personal and professional life. He listened to rants and never told a single soul. My partner was there when I needed someone to hug and he never judged me for all of my shortcomings. Basil was my K9, partner and most importantly a best friend,” Tippy said.Basil died at home surrounded by family and friends, according to troopers.

Tags

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.
| Old Memorials | Site Map
Copyright © 1973 - 2024 Louise Krause Memorials to Fallen K-9's Hosted By PC-GEEK Site Maintained BY Jim Cortina