K9 Kato – Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Handler – Sgt. Steve Hatfield 

Pottstown police K-9 Kato dies of cancer

A borough police K-9 on duty for nine years has died suddenly of an aggressive form of cancer. The news about Kato, a German shepherd, was announced Tuesday. Kato, who was born in the Czech Republic, served with Sgt. Steve Hatfield and was still on active duty. Kato was trained in narcotics detection and patrol tactics and was a former member of Montgomery County SWAT-West. He was also used by the Montgomery County Drug Task Force, according to the police department post. The K-9 fell ill and “was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer,” according to the department’s announcement. Hatfield was by the dog’s side when he died this weekend. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. Hatfield and his family,” the department wrote on the post. The department has two other K-9 officers, Taz and Jak.

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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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