K9 Zeke – Idaho Falls, Idaho

Died – 1/12/16
Handler – Officer Jeanette Johnson

Second retired K9 officer dead weeks after leaving force

The Idaho Falls Police Department has announced that Zeke, a recently retired K9 unit, died Tuesday, Jan. 12. Zeke’s death comes just days after the death of K9 Unit Bart, a recently retired law enforcement dog with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. Both dogs were officially retired together on Dec. 30, at a celebration at the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue building in Idaho Falls.Authorities say both dogs were retired for old age, but not for medical conditions. Police spokeswoman Joelyn Hansen said Zeke was not put down. “It’s just a weird coincidence,” Hansen said. “He was 11 years old, and he passed away from old age.” Sheriff Sgt. Bryan Lovell said K9 Unit Bart died due to an unforeseen medical condition on Thursday, Jan. 7. He was also not put down. Zeke had worked with his handler, officer Jeanette Johnson, on the force for nine years. The police department released the following statement on Facebook about Zeke: It’s with great sadness that we report that our recently retired K9, Zeke, passed away yesterday. He will forever be remembered as a wonderful and dedicated K9. He served the department nine years working closely with his handler, Officer Johnson. They were a dynamic duo.

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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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