K9 Nikki – Boyle County, Kentucy

Died 12/31/19
Handler – Deputy Casey McCoy

Sheriff’s Office K-9 Nikki killed in two-vehicle accident

Boyle County Sheriff’s Office K-9, Nikki, was killed in a two-vehicle wreck Tuesday afternoon in Danville. Initial reports indicate that at 2:45 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Boyle County Sheriff’s Deputy Casey McCoy was making a left turn from the Danville Bypass onto Commerce Street in his department-issued Dodge Ram 1500, according to a Danville Police news release. While in the intersection McCoy was struck in the right side by a 2007 Dodge pickup traveling eastbound toward Stanford that was being driven by George Ellison, 21, of Waynesburg with his passenger, Olivia Holcomb, 21. Assistant Police Chief Glenn Doan said McCoy was on duty, but was not answering a call at the time of the accident. All parties involved were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center. McCoy received stitches to his hand, and was released. Nikki was taken to the Animal Hospital of Danville, just across the highway from where the accident occurred, but later died due to her injuries from the crash, according to Boyle Sheriff, Derek Robbins. Danville Police are conducting the investigation and had an accident reconstructionist on scene Wednesday. Danville Police were assisted by Danville City Fire and Boyle County EMS. Robbins said Nikki was almost nine years old and had been McCoy’s partner for about seven years. He and McCoy had gotten Nikki from Southern Coast K9 in Florida. “She was head and shoulders above all the other dogs we tested,” Robbins said. Nikki was also as much of a pet as a police dog, he added. She was part of McCoy’s family. Losing Nikki is not only hard on McCoy and the Sheriff’s Department, “it’s also hard on the family,” Robbins said. He also understands what McCoy and his family are feeling about the loss of Nikki. He had recently retired his dog Dejanco after about 10 years of working together. Two weeks ago, Dejanco was killed when he was hit by a vehicle. Robbins said if McCoy later decides he wants another police dog, “I’ll get him another one.”

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.