K9 Amigo – Bucyrus, Ohio

Handler: Captain Neil Assenheimer

First Bucyrus K9 officer dies

A retired member of the Bucyrus Police Department, the first member of the department’s K9 officer corps, has died. Amigo, 10, a German shepherd who worked for the department from 2008 through 2013, passed away on Thursday, Bucyrus Police Chief David Koepke said Tuesday, with his human family by his side. Amigo was handled by Captain Neil Assenheimer during his time with the department. The police chief said Amigo made a major impact on local crime as a drug detector and patrol K9 unit. “Amigo’s nose led to numerous drug arrests, seizures of money and vehicles, and the peaceful surrender of numerous felony suspects,” Koepke said. “Amigo also worked well in the public relations department.” Koepke said Amigo made regular appearances at the local Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, as well as at fund-raising events for the Crawford County Humane Society’s annual Paws Walk, the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Crocus Club. Amigo was born on Dec. 16, 2004, at the Muramenti kennel in Letenye, Hungary, and as a puppy trained in Austria in Schutzhund (German for “protection dog”), a dog sport designed specifically for German shepherds to determine their ability for police work. Amigo earned an IPO 1 title in the sport,
which began in 1901. Amigo joined the Bucyrus Police Department when he was three and a half years old, becoming certified as the city’s first K9 on April 26, 2008. He retired in December 2013. Koepke said the purchase of Amigo was made possible from a grant from the Community Foundation for Crawford County and a donation from the Crawford County Kennel Club. “Amigo was a special member of the Bucyrus Police Department and we miss him, but his service will not be forgotten,” Koepke 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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