K9 Tito – Eufaula, Oklahoma

Died 9/16/21 

Eufaula K9 officer dies after ‘mechanical failure’ during training exercise

The Eufaula Police Department is mourning the loss of a K9 officer. The department said 4-year-old K9 Officer Tito died Thursday from injuries he sustained during training in Muskogee on Wednesday. According to their statement, there was a mechanical failure at the training and Tito was injured. Neither Tito nor his handler were at fault. The Muskogee Police Department’s veterinarian said Tito was initially brought to their clinic, then she drove him to Oklahoma Veterinary Specialist in Jenks in her SUV. Three police vehicles escorted Tito on the emergency run. Eufaula police said doctors worked on Tito for hours. Late in the evening, it was determined Tito sustained severe, irreversible brain damage. He had to be put to sleep due to the severity of his injuries. Eufaula police said they’re grateful for all who responded to help Tito – Muskogee police, Muskogee County EMS, and multiple doctors at Honor Heights Veterinary Clinic and OVS. Tito was laid to rest next to his fellow Law Enforcement K9 Gino.

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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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