K9 Meeko – Ashland, Ohio

Died – 9/10/24
Handler – Sgt. Tim Kitts.

Ashland County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Meeko dies

The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office said goodbye to K-9 Meeko on Sept. 10.She was 17 years old, according to ACSO.K-9 Meeko joined the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office in July 2012.Her four paws enforced the laws with her partner, Sgt. Tim Kitts.ASCO said Sgt. Kitts and K-9 Meeko earned “numerous awards” for their work over the years.Sgt. Kitts and K-9 Meeko were even named ACSO’s Supervisor of the Year and K-9 Officer of the Year in 2016.ASCO confirmed K-9 Meeko retired when Sgt. Kitts died unexpectedly at his home on April 13, 2017.Sgt. Kitts joined ASCO in 1997, and became a K-9 officer in 2002.”So long Meeko,” ASCO stated. “Now go find Tim.”

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.