K9 Myk – Vernon, Wisconsin

Died – 12/2/20
Handler – Deputy Mark Bellacero

Vernon County mourns death of beloved sheriff deputy K-9 Myk

Vernon County Sheriff John Spears expressed sadness Wednesday in reporting the untimely death of 10-year-old K-9 Myk. “We extend our most deepest sympathy to Myk’s handler, Deputy Mark Bellacero,” Spears said in statement on the sheriff department’s Facebook page Wednesday. A message on the Facebook page from Bellacero said, “K9 Myk passed this morning, best partner and friend I could ever have hoped for. He will be forever in my heart. Rest in Peace Myk, End of Watch 12/2/2020.” Spears will release a full statement on Thursday, according to the Facebook page. Myk, a German Shepherd Sable imported from Germany, became the department’s second K-9 when he was deputized at the age of 2 in July 2012. He responded to voice commands in German and was a dual-purpose K-9, with certification in patrol work, narcotics, tracking/searching, obedience and apprehension. Myk was the result of a community project of sorts, as many Vernon County businesses and residents donated $20,000 between September of 2011 and the spring of 2012 to the fund drive to launch the K-9 unit. Before that, when the sheriff’s department needed K-9 assistance, it needed to request mutual aid from the Viroqua or Hillsboro police departments. Animal Tracks Veterinary Service near Viroqua provided veterinary care for Myk, while his food came from the Chaseburg Coop. Myk’s death prompted an outpouring of sympathy on the sheriff’s department Facebook page, with dozens of comments.

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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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