K9 Nazz – Saskatchewan, Canada

Police dog who saved Humboldt suspect dies

A RCMP service dog who is credited with saving the life of a suspect near Humboldt this past winter has died, the service said.PSD Nazz was on a course in Alberta this week and died unexpectedly, the RCMP posted on social media recently. Nazz was born on October 24, 2020 and graduated with his handler in September 2022 and immediately began working in Northern and Central Saskatchewan.Last November, Nazz was instrumental in tracking down a suspect and found him under a row of trees on the outskirts Humboldt. The force said it is highly unlikely the man would have survived if PSD Nazz had not found him.“Police Service Dogs are incredible partners and valuable members of our RCMP team. They contribute to community safety in many ways humans cannot,” said the post. “PSD Nazz was trained in tracking, searching, criminal apprehension, obedience and agility. He was extremely good at his job and trusted by his peers and supervisors to handle any type of call for service. PSD Nazz was a valuable member of the Saskatchewan RCMP team and will be deeply missed.”

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.