K9 Blue – Niceville, Florida

Died – 8/7/22
Handler – Sgt. Phillip Ritcheson

Niceville Police K-9 killed, officer injured in crash on Highway 85

A Niceville Police K-9 was killed and an officer injured in a crash Sunday evening in Okaloosa County. The crash happened around 5:55 p.m. on Highway 85 near Highway 123.Niceville Police Chief David Popwell confirms to Channel 3 that K-9 “Blue” died in the crash after being ejected. He was with the department for six years. “Blue would run into rooms, our offices and he would run to whoever was sitting there and everybody better pet him and he’s gonna lick you to death,” Chief Powell said. “We’d take him to events with the kids, he’d just lay on his side and let the kids rub all over him and if they didn’t get to pet him. There was one school we weren’t allowed to let the kids pet the dog, oh he was upset and would try to get to the kids and he didn’t like not getting petted. Blue was a lover, not a fighter.” According to Florida Highway Patrol, a Niceville Police pickup truck was traveling south and began slowing in an attempt to switch lanes. FHP states a van attempted to switch lanes at the same time, colliding with the rear of the police truck and causing the truck to overturn. According to FHP, the 42-year-old male officer in the Niceville Police truck suffered serious injuries. The driver of the van, a 40-year-old Alabama woman, suffered minor injuries. Chief Popwell tells Channel 3 the officer remains in the hospital as of Monday morning. Niceville Police identified the officer as Sgt. Phillip Ritcheson, adding that his injuries are non life-threatening.FHP states the investigation is ongoing. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit assisted with the escort of K-9 Blue to Bluewater Bay Animal Hospital Sunday night.”Our K9 Handlers Zackary Putnam and Trey Brooks helped carry K9 Blue’s flag draped body into the building in a combined show of love, honor, and respect for his service to the community,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.

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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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