K9 Kelli – Cook, Illinois

Handler – Sgt. Erik Roedel

Bloodhound set to retire dies from cancer

The Cook County Sheriff’s Department is remembering a special dog who helped save lives and whose name had a special meaning.The bloodhound’s name was in memory of Kelli Joy O’Laughlin. The K9’s career included taking part in more than 1,000 searches.Her first mission was for a suicidal man who she found in the woods and paramedics saved.K9 Kelli and her handler became friends with the “real” Kelli’s mom and dad.They were even together a few days before the dog died. She was set to retire from police work, but died of cancer this week. A new police K9 was already being trained. She will be named KJ in honor of Kelly Joy.

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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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