K9 Atos – Lower Saucon, Pennsylvania

Handler – Officer Steve Kunigus 

Beloved Northampton County K9 Officer ATOS Dies After More Than 7 Years On Force

Skilled and beloved Northampton County K9 Officer ATOS died after spending more than seven years with the force and retiring last year. “It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the untimely passing of retired Lower Saucon Police K9 ‘ATOS,’”. The dedicated police pup served with the department from May 2013 until he retired in November 2020. He was imported from France and certified through the National Police Canine Association. ATOS and his handler, Officer Steve Kunigus, were known for working as a team in narcotics searches and seizures, demonstrations and a variety of community outreach events throughout the years. “Rest easy ‘ATOS’ and thank you for your service,” Lower Saucon Township Police 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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