K9 Viking – Warwick, Rhode Island

Died 3/8/23
Handler Aaron Steere

Warwick mourns loss of retired police K-9

The Connecticut Police Work Dog Association (CPWDA) is sad to announce the passing of retired K9 Viking. K9 Viking passed away on 3/8/23 just 2 days before his 13th birthday and would have been 13 years old and was partnered with Officer Aaron Steere with the Warwick Police Department in Rhode Island. K9 Viking served the town of Warwick since 2012 until 2019 and was certified in Patrol and Narcotics. The duo was responsible for multiple drug busts, seizing narcotics such as Fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. opioids and has been critical amid the nationwide crisis. Over the years K9 Viking searched for missing children, bank robbery suspects, and searching cars for narcotics and gave many demonstrations. K-9 Viking and Officer Steere seized 200 pounds of narcotics and $1.5 million in cash and made approximately 800 arrests. K-9 Viking was diagnosed with cancer in May of 2019 and underwent multiple surgeries. Officer Steere noticed a cyst growing on Viking’s right hind leg, so he had taken him to the vet to have it looked at and upon doing a physical exam Veterinarian’s scheduled a surgery and removed the mass, which tested positive for cancer. While they were waiting for those results to come back, Viking developed a real severe infection and it ended up being MRSA, E. coli and a staph infection. K-9 Viking, along with the rest of the Warwick Police Department, gained national attention for appearing on the A&E show, “Live PD.” Officer Steere and K9 Viking joined the C.P.W.D.A. on 10/17/12 until 2018. CPWDA sends our thoughts and prayers to Officer Steere, his family, and the entire Warwick Police Department & friends during this difficult time. K9 Viking we will miss you and we thank you for your fearless service to the City of Warwick, Rhode Island. K9 Viking R.I.P.

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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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