K9 Ringo – El Paso, Texas

Died – 4/11/17
Handler – Officer Vargas

Decorated El Paso police dog Ringo dies

A beloved, retired El Paso police dog who was part of a decorated narcotics unit and who helped educate children about the dangers of drugs died Tuesday. Ringo helped law enforcement officers find 32,988 pounds of marijuana, over 146 pounds of cocaine and $1.4 million in drug money during his more than 10 years with the El Paso Police Department, a police news release stated. Ringo had retired in August 2016 and lived with his police handler, who police only identified as Officer Vargas. Police officials said that the drug-sniffing canine team had been recognized as Unit of the Year by the Texas Narcotic Officers Association. Ringo was often a special guest in visits to schools as part of Red Ribbon Week events.

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.