K9 Verro – Paulding, Georgia

Died 7/19/19
Handler – Cpl. Brandon Kilgore

Police dog killed during mix-up while pursuing suspect in Paulding

A beloved police dog was killed Friday in a tragic accident when it was mistakenly shot by a Paulding County deputy during a chaotic chase. Verro, an 8-year-old male belgian malinois, got out of a patrol car around noon Friday without being released to assist his handler, Cpl. Brandon Kilgore. Deputies were in pursuit of a man who fled the scene of an alleged domestic dispute in the Saddlebrook Farms subdivision in Dallas, Paulding sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Ashley Henson said. “Being a former K-9 handler, I know how special the bond is between a handler and his dog,” Sheriff Gary Gulledge said. “The emotional grief everyone is going through, including the deputy who was bitten, has been overwhelming.” The deputy was following standard practice by not releasing Verro and leaving his window partially open, Henson said. Verro was able to sneak out of the vehicle through an open kennel door. Paulding deputies were unaware the dog was out of the car and didn’t identify him until after he was shot. He died at the scene. The suspect was taken into custody by other deputies in the area, authorities said.

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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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