K9 Nik – Syracuse, New York

Died 12/28/23
Handler – Sergeant Joe Szakacs

Syracuse Police Department announces loss of two K9 officers on same day

The Syracuse Police Department announced that two of its retired K9s Nik and Jack have passed away.Both dogs passed away on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023.The department posted the news to X, saying “Our courageous four legged Officers will be missed greatly.”Syracuse Police Sergeant Joe Szakacs and Nik successfully completed New York State D.C.J.S. courses in Patrol/Tracking and Explosives Detection, earning NYS certifications in these disciplines in 2013. During K9 Nik’s career, he performed 140 building searches, 14 tracks, 19 criminal apprehensions, 31 instances of Officer protection, and 173 explosives detection sweeps. After approximately seven years of service to the City of Syracuse, K9 Nik retired with his handler in 2019.K9 Jack was purchased and assigned to Officer Quick of the Syracuse Police Department’s K9 Unit in the spring of 2015. Officer Quick and K9 Jack completed their DCJS Patrol/Tracking school and Detector school in the same year and the team was deployed onto the streets of Syracuse. K9 Jack worked alongside Officer Quick until 2023 when he was retired. K9 Jack was among the largest dogs in the unit and was the primary K9 utilized alongside Syracuse PD’s SWAT team. He assisted in countless warrant executions alongside the SWAT Operators ensuring their safety and their protection. Over his career, K9 Jack conducted 122 building searches, 6 tracks, 19 criminal apprehensions, 30 instances of Officer protection and 216 explosive detection sweeps. K9 Jack passed away on his 10th birthday.”Both K9 Nik and K9 Jack were integral pieces of the K9 Unit as a whole and worked alongside two of the finest K9 Handlers and Trainers that the Unit has produced. To our brave and courageous four legged Officers, you will be missed greatly by the K9 Unit, Syracuse Police Department and the City of Syracuse. Thank you for your years of service and your unwavering dedication to keeping your handlers, the Officers you worked with and the City of Syracuse Safe,” the Syracuse Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.

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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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