K9 Vilo – Logan Township, Pennsylvania

Died 3/6/18
Handler – Officer Matthew Lutz

Departments honor K9 Officer; Vilo was with Logan Township PD for about a decade

Logan Township, Blair County, Pa. – Police departments across Blair County are mourning one of their own today. K9 Officer Vilo passed away this morning. He served the community for about a decade. Police cruiser lights flashed at a procession Tuesday morning, honoring Vilo for his years of service. “That dog was truly made to be a police patrol dog.” Logan Township Chief Timothy Mercer says their whole department is mourning Vilo. He the K9 officer made his mark in the community over the last decade.”What’s special about Vilo, is that Vilo has been in every school district in Blair County. He’s been helping make our schools safer by conducting locker searches and protecting officers,” explained Mercer. K9 Trainer Jim Walstrom trained Vilo and Officer Matt Lutz. He says losing a K9 partner is heartbreaking for the handler. “It is a little different when you work with one every day and you know when that dog will stand on his head for you and will put his life on the line anytime to protect you, or another officer, or a citizen. Logan Township Police Department will not be the same, says Chief Mercer. “He was such a fixture in our department. It was not uncommon to see him running up the hallways here playing with his toys and heading out on patrol.” Vilo retired from the department last August after he was diagnosed with cancer. Freddie is the department’s newest dog. He’s a Belgian Malinois and will carry on Vilo’s legacy.

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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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