K9 Aiko – Bath, Michigan

Died 6/2/24
Handler – Officer Michael Lapham

Bath Township Police Department’s first K9 officer dies: ‘You were such a good boy’

Bath Township Police Department’s first K9 officer, Aiko, has died. According to the police department, Aiko was laid to rest Sunday due to health complications. Officer Aiko joined the police department in April 2014. He was part of numerous arrests, narcotic detections, tactical team deployments and sweeps of schools. He was most notably known for finding two children who were trapped in a wooded marshland.“Aiko was beloved by the community and was supported by so many,” said the Bath Township Police Department on Facebook. “He will be missed by the community, his social media followers, fellow officers and family.”

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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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