K9 Keej – McLean County, Illinois

Died 7/2/21
1ST Handler – Lt. Jason Tuttle
2nd Handler – Lt. Jon Albee

10-year McLean County Sheriff’s K-9 Dies

McLean County Sheriff’s officers are mourning the loss of a 10-year deputy K-9. Keej retired from the McLean County Sheriff’s Department in May 2018 and died July 2 due to complications with his spine, the department said in a social media post.He partnered with Lt. Jason Tuttle in 2008. Keej was later paired with Lt. Jon Albee and became Albee’s pet after his retirement. A highlight of Keej’s career as deputy K-9 was his “instrumental” role in finding two abducted children in July 2016, the department said. Keej helped the McLean County Sheriff’s Department seize more than $3 million worth of drugs and assets, including nearly 240 pounds of cocaine, crack, MDMA, heroin and methamphetamine, and about 250 pounds of cannabis, the department said. That also includes more than $800,000 worth of currency, vehicles and guns. “Keej was a phenomenal police dog, loyal partner, and even better friend. I miss him terribly,” Albee said in a statement.

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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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