K9 Tucker – Marquette, Michigan

Died – 1/2/23
Handler – Sgt. Kate Bonifas

U.P. community mourning death of beloved police dog, Tucker

The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the death of its beloved K9, Tucker.Deputies made the announcement “with a heavy heart” on Tuesday.Tucker joined the department in 2019 and spent most of his time with handler Sgt. Kate Bonifas working to eliminate drugs from being smuggled into the Marquette County Jail. “Thank you for your service to the Marquette County Jail and the Marquette County community,” a police statement reads. “Job well done, rest easy Deputy Tucker.”RIP Tucker.Tucker’s condition had gotten worse since an inoperable tumor was discovered on his heart on Dec. 22. Deputies said his health had deteriorated to the point that Bonifas made the decision to ease his pain by having him humanly euthanized on Monday.

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.