K9 Bear – Marysville, Ohio

Died – 6/24/21
Handler – Officer Dave Nist

Marysville police K-9 passes away while patrolling

Marysville Police Officer Dave Nist announced his partner Bear passed away on Thursday. The Marysville Division of Police announced one of its beloved K-9s passed away on Thursday. The division shared a post by Marysville Police Officer Dave Nist, who is K-9 Bear’s handler. Nist said Bear passed away while the two were patrolling. On June 8, Nist posted on Facebook Bear had injured his neck in May. During an x-ray, Nist said a tumor was found on his neck. A biopsy revealed to be a highly aggressive form of cancer. It is with great sadness that I share Ofc. Nist post about his partner K9 Officer Bear. Please keep Dave and his family in your thoughts and prayers. “You were the best partner one could ask for. It was a pleasure to serve with you. Rest easy Bear,” Nist wrote in a Facebook post. Nist said he is going to set up a public memorial service at the division for a later date.

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.