K9 Disco – West Fargo, North Dakota

Died 8/24/23
Handler – Assistant Chief Pete Nielsen

West Fargo’s first K-9 police officer ‘Disco’ dies

The West Fargo Police Department has announced the passing of K9 Disco on Thursday, August 24, 2023. Disco was the West Fargo Police Department’s first-ever K9.Disco started with the police department in March of 2011, and retired in 2018. During his career, he had been deployed more than 1,000 times in situations like felony arrests, tracking missing people, and even seizing millions of dollars worth of drugs.He received countless awards in the area of narcotics, including awards from the North American Police Working Dog Association, and the United States Police Canine Association. Disco has already been inducted into the North Dakota Veterinarian Medical Association Hall of Fame. In his 14 years of life, he worked alongside his partner, Assistant Chief Pete Nielsen of the West Fargo Police Department. Nielsen and Disco took one final ride together yesterday and will be greatly missed for his service to this community.

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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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