K9 Nico – Pasadena, California

Died – 7/26/20
Handler – Corporal Matt Widger

Pasadena Police Canine Dies

A police dog that aided the Pasadena Police Department for nearly 10 years died Sunday, according to Lt. William Grisafe. Nico had been partnered with Cpl. Matt Widger for the past eight years. Widger noticed Thursday that Nico developed a cough and took him to the veterinarian. Although the dog was given medicine, the cough got worse over the weekend. On Sunday, Widger took the dog back to the veterinarian, who diagnosed the dog with lung cancer. Nico died at the veterinarian’s while undergoing treatment. Nico was a dual-purpose K9 trained for patrol duties as well as narcotics detection.“He was the Department’s oldest dog and will be missed,” according to a Police Department statement. “His service to the Pasadena Community and the Pasadena Police Department has been significant over the past eight years, helping to take multiple suspects into custody and locating large quantities of narcotics.”

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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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