K9 Bruno – Big Lake, Minnesota

Died 10/12/22
Handler – Officer Guy Chaffee

Big Lake Police Dog Bruno Dies

The Big Lake Police Department says one of its K9 officers has died. A post on the department’s Facebook page says K9 Bruno passed away Wednesday night, adding he was “an instrumental piece to this police department and to the community of Big Lake. We will forever miss him!” They thanked the community of Big Lake for the “overwhelming support over the course of Bruno’s life.”K9 Bruno is survived by the 16 men and women of the Big Lake Police Department, including his human partner, officer Guy Chaffee, and his family. K9 Bruno was also known to train with BCSO K9 Ragnar, so the loss “hits close to home.”

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.