K9 Mojo – North Charleston, South Carolina

Died 2/15/18
Handler – Officer Brandon VanAusdal

K9 Mojo killed in crash

A K-9 Mojo was killed in a DUI crash Thursday and his handler injured when suspect Richard Shore, 37, collided with their police vehicle. .Mojo served with the department for five years. His handler, Officer Brandon VanAusdal, is currently being treated at a hospital. The South Carolina Highway Patrol has identified the driver’s involved in the crash that claimed the life of North Charleston police K9 Mojo, Thursday night as Richard Joseph Shore, Jr. Shore has been charged with felony DUI. Shore tried to make a left turn on Rivers Avenue and was struck by Brandon VanAusdal, driving a North Charleston Police Department Tahoe. Shore was transported to a local hospital. VanAusdal was hospitalized with serious injuries. NCPD K9 officer Mojo died at the scene.Before 9 p.m. VanAusdal had activated his cruiser’s lights and sirens while responding on Rivers Avenue to a burglary in process. The officer was transported to MUSC for treatment and remains hospitalized. K9 MOJO was transported to an Emergency Vet Clinic where he succumbed to his injuries. K-9 MOJO served the department and citizens of North Charleston for more than 5 years. PFC VanAusdal has been with the department since November 2011. Shore suffered minor injuries. His charge of felony DUI with great bodily injury carries between 30 days and 15 years behind bars. He is a felon with a past conviction for drug trafficking.The South Carolina Highway Patrol’s Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team is investigating.

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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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