K9 Viper – Pierce County, Wisconsin

Died 8/14/15
Handler – Patrol Sgt. Andy Thoms

Sheriff’s office mourns loss of police dog Viper

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is mourning the loss of one of its own. The department announced last week that Viper, the K¬9 partner of Sgt. Andy Thoms, died on Friday. A statement released Saturday by the department said Viper “will be missed immensely.” “Our department has suffered a significant loss,” the statement reads. “There are no words that can adequately express our gratitude and deep appreciation for Viper’s dedication to his role with (the) Pierce County Sheriff’s Department as well as his service over the last three years.” Sheriff Nancy Hove said the German shepherd died during complications from intestinal surgery. Viper passed away at the side of his handler, Patrol Sgt. Andy Thoms, on August 14, after complications from a surgery he had on August 6. Viper had an enlarged spleen and twisted intestines, but ultimately passed away from an infection. Viper first took to the streets of Pierce County in 2012 with Thoms after they graduated from a K¬9 training program in Blaine, Minn. Chief Deputy Jason Matthys noted that in addition to their service, police dogs become a part of their handler’s families, too. “He served the citizens of Pierce County with pride and was always by my side,” said Thoms, who participated in selecting Viper after being named to the K¬9 unit.According to a sheriff’s department news release, Viper was certified in K¬9 trials during all three years of his service. Viper joined the Pierce County Sheriff Department in June of 2012. Sgt. Thoms was selected to serve as the new K9 handler, and both were trained and certified together. Viper was involved in several missing persons searches and “had a vital role in numerous narcotic cases,” according to the department. “K¬9s have been proven to be crucial in today’s policing,” Matthys said. “From community education, aiding in the locating of missing persons, to the apprehension of dangerous criminals, these trained service dogs are an asset to law enforcement officers as well as the public they protect.” Plans for a successor K¬9 have not yet been begun “due to the sudden loss,” according to the department.

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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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