K9 Shadow – Brevard, Florida

Handler – Corporal Roth

Brevard Sheriff’s Office Retired K-9 ‘Shadow’ Laid To Rest, Had Stellar 8-Year Career With BCSO

K-9 “Shadow” officially began his career with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in 2011, where he served as a dual-purpose patrol and narcotics K-9 until his retirement in 2019. Throughout his career, he had numerous criminal apprehensions, narcotics discoveries and also participated in countless demonstrations at schools and events. “Shadow” lived a spoiled retired life at home with Corporal Roth’s family and never truly retired as in his new duties, he was assigned to keep watch over Corporal Roth’s daughter, who was born shortly after his official retirement. Members of our Brevard County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit and various Law Enforcement Agencies from across the county said goodbye on Wednesday to retired K9 “Shadow,” who served our agency from 2011 until retiring in 2019. While Father Time caught up with K-9 “Shadow,” it didn’t stop him from taking one last hit on the bite sleeve, as is a tradition in our agency for our K-9 Heroes as we say goodbye to them.K-9 “Shadow” officially began his career with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in 2011, where he served as a dual-purpose patrol and narcotics K-9 until his retirement in 2019.Throughout his career, he had numerous criminal apprehensions, narcotics discoveries and also participated in countless demonstrations at schools and events. “Shadow” proudly served our agency and citizens for eight years prior to his well-deserved retirement from the job.“Shadow” lived a spoiled retired life at home with Corporal Roth’s family and never truly retired as in his new duties, he was assigned to keep watch over Corporal Roth’s daughter, who was born shortly after his official retirement.In his final patrol car ride, K-9 “Shadow” was escorted by our K-9 Units, K-9 Handlers from our partner law enforcement agencies throughout the county, and K-9 Handlers from Patrick Space Force Base to his final resting place in Titusville.A special thank you to our great friends at Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital in Viera and Best Friend’s Cremation in Titusville for their kind and compassionate care of our furry hero, K-9 “Shadow!”

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.