K9 Nero – Berrien County, Indiana

Died – 6/27/19
Handler – Deputy Brandon Crosby

Police dog dies at Indiana kennel

Hearts were heavy at the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Thursday as police learned of the death of Nero, one of the department’s K9 officers. Nero, a 7-year-old Belgian Tervuren, was found dead by staff at a kennel where he was being boarded while his handler, Deputy Brandon Crosby, is on vacation. “It is with great sadness that we inform you that we have lost one of our beloved, loyal and faithful family members today,” Undersheriff Chuck Heit stated in an email to area media. “Nero has been a devoted and loyal partner to Deputy Brandon Crosby for the last five years. Our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Crosby and his family at this time.” Heit said the sheriff’s office is waiting for the results of a necropsy (animal autopsy) that is being done on Nero at Purdue University to determine the cause of his death. Nero was found dead Thursday morning at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Ind., where he was trained and purchased from, Heit said. Crosby has been with the sheriff’s department since 2011 and became a K9 handler when Nero joined the department in 2014. Nero was born in April 2011 and was brought to the United States from the Czech Republic. Heit said the dog was cross-trained in explosives detection, handler protection and tracking.

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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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