K9 Kid – Macon County, Illinois

K9 Kid – Macon County, Illinois

Died – 12/14/17
Handler – Officer Alan Engdale

A K9 officer that served in the Macon County Sheriff’s Office has died. Deputies say Explosive Detection K9 Deputy Kid passed away Thursday from a medical complication at the age of six. They say the dog had a pre-existing medical condition that contributed to his death, adding he died from complications. The Macon County Sheriff’s Office retired Dep. Kid from service on Monday, Dec. 11 because of his medical issues. Kid has worked with Court Security Officer Alan Engdale since Sept. 2013. In that time, he helped deputies investigate possible explosives and performed sweeps of Macon County buildings to be sure each place remained safe. Engdale and Kid became buddies soon after meeting each other. Their partnership came about after a serious 1988 car crash in Germany nearly cost Engdale his life. That situation left him with a new appreciation for life and for the K9 he worked with, a sentiment he carries with him to this day through a tattoo of the dog. Deputies say memorial service arrangements for Kid are incomplete at this 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.