K9 Rico – Portland, Oregon

Died – 3/9/17
Handler – Officer Jeff Dorn

K-9 dies after surgery, 2nd loss for human partner
Dorn’s last K-9 partner was killed in the line of duty in 2014

The Portland Police Department lost one of its K-9 officers this week after he experienced complications from surgery. Rico, a 3-year-old German Shepherd, was euthanized Thursday night. Rico was born and raised in Springfield and worked with his human partner, Officer Jeff Dorn. He was certified for patrol work in April 2016, Portland police said. Dorn also lost his last K-9 partner, Mick, in the line of duty in April 2014. Dorn and Mick responded to a burglary in SW Portland, where they were both shot.Unfortunately, Mick’s injuries were fatal. Mick was new to the force, but at a memorial for the fallen K-9 in 2014, Dorn called Mick a hero and said he made the ultimate sacrifice. “Mick lived and died not only as a puppy, but as the hero of my heart,” Dorn said. Police K-9s are specially trained to help officers on various calls and serve as back up for their human partners. The PPB Canine Unit includes German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherds. Like the dogs, officers in the Canine Unit must have special training and at least 4.5 years with PPB. The dogs live with the officers and their families while they aren’t working.

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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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