K9 Pershing – Spotsylvania, Virginia

Handler – Sergeant Josh Wine

Retired K-9 Pershing passes in Spotsylvania

It is with a heavy heart that the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office announces the passing of retired K9 Pershing. K9 Pershing faithfully served Spotsylvania with his partner Sergeant Josh Wine from 2012 to 2017. K9 Pershing served as a dual purpose patrol and explosives detection canine. He required a certain type of handler and personality to be a part of his team. Sergeant Wine was a perfect fit and K9 Pershing mentored him in becoming the great handler that he is today and was fiercely loyal to him, forging an unbreakable bond. After retirement, K9 Pershing lived with Sergeant Wine at his home. K9 Pershing was not only an amazing K9 partner, but an even more amazing family member to Sergeant Wine. Please keep Sergeant Wine and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they struggle with the loss of a loyal friend.

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.