K9 Cappy – Pittsburg, Pennsylvania

Handler – Officer Kevin Merkel

Pittsburgh police K-9 Cappy dies at 7

Pittsburgh Police’s K-9 Unit has announced the death of its only bloodhound, Cappy.In a Facebook post, Pittsburgh Police said that the 7-year-old Cappy worked closely with his handler, Officer Kevin Merkel. Cappy had “an untreatable malignant melanoma that had spread into his lymph nodes.”Cappy responded to over 60 after-hours calls a year. He would be used to track people who were lost or criminals police were tried to apprehend.Cappy would be used to track the suspect, then other police dogs would be used to apprehend them.In addition to that, Cappy was used at the “centerpiece” of the “Scentsational K9” Program.Working with a local hospital and the FBI, people would bring at-risk loved ones to an event where skin cells would be sealed in a sterile container.The container would be given back to the family and if the at-risk family member ever went missing, the sample could be used so Cappy could get their scent and track them down.Cappy would also be introduced to the at-risk people, so they would recognize him if they ever went missing.“K9 Cappy was an integrable part of our K-9 unit and will be sorely missed,” Police said in the post.

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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.
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