Photos for Headline Surfer / Above, Palatka police k-9 Tango, and below, Tango with then-Palatka Police officer Orestes Cossio before before the drug-sniffing dog passed away from an unexpected medical condition two years ago.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
PALATKA, Fla. -- K-9 Tango spent two years with the Palatka Police Department and with his assigned partner, then-patrol officer Orestes Cossio, before the dog died as a result of an an unexpected medical condition May 11, 2018.
Tango had been with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office for several years before that.
Within weeks of Tango's passing, Cossio found himself in trouble and lost his job after a DUI while off duty in his patrol car. Other cops said he was upset over the loss of his k-9 partner.
Palatka police issued a statement after Tango's death, stating in part, "To him, work was play time... Rest in peace Tango and thank you for your service."
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office also released a written statement on K-9 Tango at that time, stating, "Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Cossio and the Palatka Police Department as they mourn the unexpected loss of K-9 Tango.
P
alatka police issued a statement after Tango's death, stating in part, "To him, work was play time... Rest in peace Tango and thank you for your service."
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office also released a written statement on K-9 Tango's passing at that time, stating, "Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Cossio and the Palatka Police Department as they mourn the unexpected loss of K-9 Tango.
Before his career with Palatka, Tango served faithfully with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
Tango was featured on a Jacksonville news station back in 2016 while he was still with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Putnam County Sheriff's K-9 handler Emmett Merritt took his then-partner, Tango, to train on obstacles at a dog park that had recently opened.
The Putnam County Parks and Recreation Department and the Sheriff’s Office had worked on creating the dog park for months.
Before his career with Palatka, Tango served faithfully with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Tango was featured on a Jacksonville news station back in 2016 while he was still with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
Putnam County Sheriff's K-9 handler Emmett Merritt took his then-partner, Tango, to train on obstacles at a dog park that had recently opened. The Putnam County Parks and Recreation Department and the Sheriff’s Office had worked on creating the dog park for months.
The Sheriff’s Office at that time said the park would give their dogs a place to train when they needed it and also give the public a place to spend time with their pets.
Attempts by Headline Surfer to get more information from the two law enforcement agencies on k-9 Tango, such as his age and the arrangement for his transfer from Putnam County Sheriff's Office to Paltka Police Department, were unsuccessful despite repeated inquiries to top officials with both law enforcemt agencies.
Henry Frederick is publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched 12 years ago that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed more than a hundred journalism industry awards in print & online -- more than than all other members of the working press combined in Central Florida since the mid-1990s. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism with academic honors from Full Sail University in 2019. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary programs on Discovery ID and Reelz for his investigative reporting and cops & courts breaking news stories.