K9Stryker – Shelton, Connecticut

Handler – Officer Dan Loris

Shelton police mourn retired K9 Stryker

Community members and law enforcement took to social media Tuesday, paying tribute to Stryker, the city’s police K9 officer who retired in 2020. Longtime handler Dan Loris, now a Fairfield police officer, announced Stryker’s death on Facebook Tuesday, stating that “he was more of a partner than you could ever imagine. He was a best friend to me.” Stryker, who was nearly 9 when he retired, worked alongside Loris since the pair’s arrival on the force in 2014. Police Chief Shawn Sequeira said Loris had purchased Stryker, who had had surgery prior to his retirement, for $1. “K9 Stryker and I are both graduates of the Connecticut State Police Training Troops, forever connecting us as troopers,” Sequeira said. “The SPD was honored to have Stryker as a member of our department and is grateful for his years of service in his recognized drug seizures, missing persons, crime solving, and critical role in solving investigations.” Stryker was the top dog in the Connecticut State Police 173rd Training Troop and a graduate of the Connecticut State Police 185th Narcotics Detection. His career with the Shelton police included sniffing out 55 pounds of fentanyl, worth about $1.5 million, during the stop of a tractor trailer in 2016 on Route 34 on the approach to Derby and Route 8. This was, at the time, one of the biggest fentanyl finds in the state’s history. “He will be forever remembered in his imperative tasks in assisting other agencies with policing,” Sequeira said. “Our sincere condolences to all who knew K9 Stryker, especially his handler, Officer Dan Loris.” Shelton police acquired Stryker in 2014, following the retirement of then-K9 Jager. Stryker was purchased from Erich Grasso of Grasso Shepherds in Shelton, which has provided several dogs to various law enforcement agencies. Loris and Stryker graduated from the Connecticut State Police K9 Academy in May 2015. The team was recognized as the Daniel Wasson Award for outstanding service recipient upon graduation.

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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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