K9 Jago – High Prairie, Canada

Died – 6/18/21
Handler – Cpl. Scott Macleod

Police K9 killed during ongoing incident near Winagami Provincial Park

Alberta RCMP say a police service dog has been killed in the line of duty in an ongoing police operation near Winagami Lake Provincial Park, northwest of High Prairie, as they continue searching for a man who is considered armed and dangerous. High Prairie Mayor Brian Panasiuk confirmed to EverythingGP that PSD Jago died Thursday as police searched for the suspect, Lionel Ernest Grey of High Prairie. The operation began around 11 a.m. Thursday, June 17, when High Prairie RCMP spotted a suspect vehicle turn into the park from Highway 679. That came after McLennan RCMP attempted to conduct a traffic stop at around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, on a suspect wanted on outstanding warrants for what Mounties call “crimes against persons.” Police found Grey’s vehicle abandoned in the park after it got stuck in the mud. High Prairie RCMP members and PSD Jago then attempted to track down Grey after he fled on foot into a wooded area.Police say no additional officers have been physically injured in this incident. RCMP say the operation is “very much ongoing” and the public is asked to avoid the area. They say they have deployed “a number of resources with various skill sets” to locate Grey.“The RCMP Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services Units and Air Services have an area contained where they believe the suspect to be hiding,” RCMP say, in a release. “The safety of the general public is our priority. We are asking all residents in the High Prairie area to stay away from police activity, to remain vigilant and to report anything suspicious to police.” Grey is described as 6’2″, weighing 190 lbs with black hair and a dark complexion. He is believed to be wearing a black coat and grey sweater. RCMP say they will give another update on the situation early Friday afternoon. Mayor Panasiuk says the flags at High Prairie Town Hall have been lowered to half-mast in honour of PSD Jago. “Just like we would for any other member of the RCMP, that died in the line of duty, we lowered the flags.” PSD Jago and his handler, Cpl. Scott MacLeod, came to the detachment in High Prairie last summer after much lobbying by council and the community as a whole to get a police dog for the area. “He will be greatly missed,” said Panasiuk.

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.