K9 Diesel – East Lansing, Michigan

Handler – Officer Erich Vedder

It is with a very, very heavy heart that we have to inform all of you that one of our retired K-9‘s was laid to rest this past week. In May of 2009, Ofc. Erich Vedder (now Lieutenant) and K-9 Diesel graduated from K-9 Class and began working on the streets of East Lansing. From 2009 to 2017 Diesel and Lt. Vedder were responsible for handling hundreds of calls for service for this community and the surrounding area. During their tenure they were widely regarded as one of the best K-9 teams working. Lt. Vedder is regarded as a SME (subject matter expert) for explosive dog handlers and his knowledge and dedication to perfection and training led to them being one of the best teams our officers and others have worked with. Diesel excelled at patrol work and served on IRSRT for a number of years as well. Diesel spent the last handful of years with Lt. Vedder and his family, and never once lost his drive for life. He enjoyed stealing food from the counter and going for his morning run or walk. He will always be one of the finest and most capable K-9’s to have ever worked in the Tri-County area. This is a tough loss for Lt. Vedder and the other K-9 handlers here at ELPD. We have have no doubt that Diesel was ready and is still on patrol elsewhere!

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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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