K9 Rocky – Pudukottai, India

Died 7/21/22

Detective Dog Rocky laid to rest

Police detective dog ‘Rocky’ which had retired from active service and died due to old age was laid to rest with State honors here on Thursday. ‘Rocky’ had served in the Detective Dog Squad of Pudukottai Police for 10 years and was deployed for anti-sabotage checks conducted during the visit of VVIPs at various places in the State. It was also deployed during the Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations held at Chennai. Rocky had retired from service in December 2021 and was being looked after at the Detective Dog Squad here. Owing to ill health a few days ago, Rocky was being treated at the Government Veterinary Hospital at Thirugokarnam here and it died in the early hours on Thursday. Superintendent of Police, Pudukottai, Vandita Pandey paid her respects to Rocky which was buried with State honors, a police press release said.

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.