K9 Viper – Hillsborough, North Carolina

Died 10/21/18
Handler – Officer 1st Class Mike Toellen

Retired Hillsborough K9 Officer Dies

Viper – a well-known K9 Officer in the Hillsborough Police Department – has died. Viper passed away on Wednesday, October 21, following a sudden illness. He was nearly 10 years old, having served the town for six years before retiring from police work last fall and living full-time with Officer 1st Class Mike Toellen, Viper’s handler, and his family. “Viper was a great police K9 and a fantastic asset for the department,” said Lt. Davis Trimmer, commander of the Patrol Division, in a press release. “He was so outgoing and social and a great representative of the Hillsborough Police Department. We have missed him since his retirement, and our hearts go out to Mike and his family. Our police dogs, even after retirement, are a part of the HPD family.” Viper retired last fall after developing an unidentified medical condition that made it difficult for him to walk long distances, or even to work. After taking up residence full-time as a family dog, Viper developed a strong bond with Toellen’s son. “It gave me tremendous peace of mind that Viper was looking out for my family while I was at work,” said Toellen. In his time as a dual-purpose patrol dog, Viper tracked people, searched buildings and located narcotics – all in addition to protecting his partner and apprehending suspects. The Hillsborough Police Department’s remaining K9 officer, Vader, continues to work with Cpl. Scott Foster.

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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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