K9 Havic – Heath, Ohio

Died 4/2/23
K9 Havic – Heath, Ohio
Handler – Officer Emde

Heath police announce passing of K-9 Havik

It is with a heavy heart that the Heath Police Department announces the loss of our canine, Havik. Havik had a serious medical incident beginning on Friday 03/31/2023. Havik’s condition continued to deteriorate over the weekend. Yesterday, after consulting with the Veterinarian, the difficult decision had to be made to ease Havik’s suffering. Havik, and family, were escorted to the Bailey’s Veterinary Clinic by members of the Heath Police Department, Newark Police Department and Heath Fire Department. Thank you all who assisted with this escort. Havik had served the citizens and officers of Heath and Licking County since 2012. He located evidence, tracked and apprehended criminals, and he did a lot of demonstrations for the public. Havik was a good and dependable canine and worked clear up to the end. Havik assisted on a sweep of a school on Friday. Officer Mark Emde worked with Havik for over 10 years. They trained hundreds of hours and worked side by side. The loss is tremendous for all of us, but it is most felt by Mark and his Family. Heath Police Department lost an excellent canine, and Emde family lost a part of their family. We are so very sorry for their loss. Canine Havik, thank you for your service to Heath all of Licking County. Heath Police Canine Havik End of Watch April 2nd, 2023. Rest in peace.

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.