K9 Apachi – Tipton, Indiana

Handler – Officer Brian DellaRosa

Retired Tipton police K-9 Apachi dies 

The Tipton Police Department is mourning the lose of one of its retired K-9s who was responsible for hundreds of drug-related arrests and successfully tracking many suspects during his tenure. K-9 Apachi, a male Belgian Malinois, recently died and “crossed the rainbow bridge,” according to a TPD release. Apachi was hired in November 2009 as the department’s second narcotics detection and tracking K-9. He was handled and cared for by Brian DellaRosa, who served the Tipton Police Department as a patrol officer, sergeant and detective over the course of his career. Apachi retired from active service in late 2017. In 2020, DellaRosa transferred to the Beech Grove Police Department and Apachi lived with DellaRosa and his family. His career began in early 2009 at Vohne Liche Kennels near Denver, Indiana, where he was trained, before joining the Tipton Police Department. Apachi was purchased by DellaRosa to serve with the department. Throughout his career, Apachi worked mostly in the areas of drug detection, tracking suspects and public relations, according to the release. His work led to hundreds of drug-related arrests, multiple successful suspect tracks and many smiling faces. “K-9 Apachi touched many lives throughout his time with the Tipton Police Department and he is greatly missed by all of us,” the department stated in the release. “We ask that you join us in offering condolences to Brian DellaRosa, and his family, during this difficult time.”

 

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.