K9 Rio – Sioux Falls, Iowa

Handler – Officer Shannon Irish

Sioux Falls Police: Retired K-9 dies, served city for 7 years

The Sioux Falls Police Department announced the death of a retired K-9 in the care of his handler. Rio served the Sioux Falls Police Department for seven years before retiring at home with his handler Officer Shannon Irish on June 6, 2019. A K-9 like Rio will go through 16 weeks of dual purpose drug and patrol training before starting their official role. After starting their job, K-9s do a minimum of eight hours of training each week. Rio was the second retired K-9 to die this year, according to police. “Thank you to the staff at Dale Animal Hospital for his care in his retirement and honoring him in a short service today. K9 Rio joins retired SFPD K9 Max in crossing the rainbow bridge this year and we know they are both enjoying their time together getting reunited in doggie heaven,” SFPD said in a statement on Facebook.

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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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