K9 Gunner – Roanoke, Virginia

Handler – Sergeant T. Barber 

Retired Roanoke police K-9 passes away surrounded by loved ones

A retired Roanoke police K-9 passed away last week. The Roanoke Police Dept. says Gunner passed surrounded by those that loved him after a long battle with a medical condition. Gunnar served the City of Roanoke from 2013 to 2021 at which point he retired to live with his partner, Sergeant T. Barber. Gunner was an explosives detection dog who was trained to alert to firearms and other explosive materials. RPD says Gunner and Sgt. Barber worked together for eight years, performing protective sweeps for major events, demonstrating Gunner’s training at schools, and locating firearms. “K-9 Gunner dedicated his life to the Roanoke Police Dept. and served his community with distinction. He was a beloved member of both the Roanoke Police Department and Barber family, and he will be greatly missed by all of us. Thank you for your service, K-9 Gunner,” RPD said.

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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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