K9 Hutch – Saskatoon, Canada

Died – 12/2/24

Hutch the Saskatoon Police Dog dies after five years of service

The Saskatoon Police Service has had to say goodbye to a four-legged member of its team.Hutch the Police Service Dog died with his handler by his side on the evening of Dec. 2 after suffering an off-duty medical emergency.The dog was part of the Saskatoon Police Service for over five years.He was trained as a drug detection dog and a tactical support K9. He helped assist with hundreds of arrests, apprehensions, drug busts and assisted with high-risk deployments on the Tactical Support Unit.In a social media post made by the Saskatoon Police Service, it said Hutch will be missed by his handler, the canine unit and all members of the police service.It also thanked the staff at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine for their help with its canine program.

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.