K9 Arko – Natchez, Mississippi

City bids farewell to long-serving police dog who died of cancer after decade of serving and protecting

Longtime Natchez police dog Arko died last month at approximately 14 years of age after a long battle with cancer and other ailments associated with old age, said Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong. “We knew his days were numbered because of his age,” Armstrong said. “He was suffering some severe hip problems and also suffering from cancer. Therefore, he was pretty much semi-retired during the last several weeks because of that.” Armstrong said Arko, a German Shepherd, who was on the force for approximately 10 years, died peacefully. “He will be dearly missed because as a police dog he is just like an officer,” Armstrong said. “We are without a K-9, and we are certainly in dire need of one.”

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