K9 Kira – Edinburgh, Indiana

Died 2/4/24
Handler – Officer Ryan Coy

Edinburgh police K9 Kira dies after training exercises

The Edinburgh Police Department said its K9 Kira became ill during a monthly training exercise and later died.Police said K9 Kira and her handler were doing their monthly training exercise Thursday when Kira fell sick. K9 Kira was transported to a vet where doctors stated that she had signs of pneumonia and an infection.Despite the treatment by Indy Vet, K9 Kira passed away in the arms of her Handler Officer Ryan Coy on Sunday, officers said, who asked the community to keep Officer Coy and the entire Edinburgh Police Department in their thoughts.The department thanked Lawrence PD Adam Hazlewood, Bartholomew County Sheriff school resource officer Jessica Pendleton and 31 Auto Andy Grider for their assistance.

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.