K9 Atos – Grand Rapids, Michigan

Handler – Sgt. Jeff Dionne

Grand Rapids police say goodbye to K-9 Atos

Grand Rapids police laid one of their own to rest Tuesday. K-9 Atos joined the Grand Rapids Police Department in 2015 as a nationally certified patrol K-9 with a scent specialty in explosives detection, according to the department. Throughout his nearly decade-spanning career, K-9 Atos and his handler, Sgt. Jeff Dionne, performed close to 200 sweeps of Van Andel Arena ahead of concerts and other larger events, officers said.The pair were also very busy during election campaign seasons, performing sweeps ahead of visits by multiple presidential candidates, according to police. “Atos was an incredible K9 partner that loved his job and his family equally,” Dionne said. “I’ve had dogs for most of my life and I’ve cared a great deal for each of them, but the bond I had with Atos was on another level. He will be deeply missed.” Atos retired from police work in May 2022, and spent the rest of his time with Dionne and family, officers 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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