K9 Rambo – Queensland, Australia

Died – 6/19/21
Handler – Sergeant Ian Grigoris

Police stuck and killed by car while hunting wanted person

A Queensland police dog has been killed while tracking a wanted person in the Fraser Coast region on Saturday morning. Police said about 12.30am, police dog Rambo and his handler, Sergeant Ian Grigoris, were tracking a man, who had allegedly fled from police in Maryborough West on the Bruce Highway when PD Rambo was hit by a car. He was rushed to a nearby vet by police but could not be revived. PD Rambo was from the Fraser Coast, having lived in the area as a puppy. Police said he worked tirelessly to keep the Maryborough community safe after graduating from the academy in 2015. He often assisted police in finding missing people and successful tracked two offenders on Australia Day in 2019. A review will be conducted by the State Dog Squad Capability Co-ordinator into the circumstances of the incident.

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.