K9 Blue – MWD

Handler – Officer Byung Kang
K9 Officer Blue was trained to detect explosive devices and is credited with saving lives daily, including her owner’s. A beloved K9 has been laid to rest Tuesday in a full honor guard memorial service Tuesday in Bethlehem, Georgia. K9 Officer Blue and her handler Officer Byung “BK” Kang served more than 300 combat missions while serving together in the United States Marine Corps on a deployment to Afghanistan from 2011-2012. Blue was trained to detect explosive devices and is credited with saving lives daily. According to USA Today, Kang adopted Blue after she saved his life countless times while on deployment. During their deployment, Kang would read Blue’s body language to know when there was a possible improvised explosive device (IED) to investigate. Blue would then run ahead of their group to determine if there was danger ahead. After detecting an explosive, Kang called Blue back and her reward was playing with a toy, USA Today reports. The K9 Officer received a 21-gun salute and full military honors during her memorial service at Oak Rest Pet Memorial Gardens. According to a release from the pet funeral home, Blue received an award for her military services from the United States War Dogs Association. She was also a semifinalist for the 2020 American Humane Hero Dog Awards. 

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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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