K9 Paris – Yuma County, Arizona

Died – 6/20/17
Handler – Deputy William Rice

Retired YCSO K-9 dies

The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office has announced the death of one of their retired K-9’s. YCSO said, “It is with great sadness that we report the passing of retired Yuma County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Paris on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. K-9 Paris was a sable and black in color male German Shepherd, born January 5, 2007. He was named after the ancient Athens leader Pericles meaning “Surrounded by Glory” and K-9 Paris proved to live by his name.” Paris and his handler, Deputy William Rice, attended the U.S. Border Patrol K-9 Academy at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas in May 2008. Paris and his handler successfully completed the two-hundred and forty (240) hour course on June 20, 2008 and received the Border Patrol Certification. Deputy Rice and Paris were assigned to the Yuma County Detention Center. Their mission was to deter and detect the presence of narcotics in the Detention Center, which included Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Heroin. Deputy Rice and Paris were also called upon to assist the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau and the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force (YCNTF) with their mission to improve the quality of life for all residents of Yuma County. In addition to assisting the YCSO Patrol Bureau and YCNTF, K-9 Paris and his handler were also called on to assist numerous agencies within Yuma County to include the Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona State Gang Task Force (G.I.I.T.E.M.), Cocopah Tribal Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, San Luis Police Department, Smuggling Interdiction Group, Somerton Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, and Yuma Police Department. On April 30, 2014, K-9 Paris retired after nearly 6 years of dedicated service as a member of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. During his tenure, Paris was responsible for the seizure of 208.6 pounds of Cocaine; 4,929 pounds of Marijuana; 149.2 pounds of Methamphetamine; and $601,958.00 in U.S. currency. In retirement, Paris continued to reside with his handler, Deputy William Rice and his family.

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.