K9 Rex – Cudahy, Wisconsin

Died – 2/9/25
Handler – Corporal Holly Bhirdo

Cudahy police K-9 dies

The Cudahy Police Department said one of their police K-9 officers died.Police said K-9 Rex was born in Germany on June 21, 2013. He spent a year in Germany, where he earned his BA certification. He was trained in obedience, and tracking and was able to run 8 miles in the required amount of time for his certification. Rex’s German birth name was Monster vom Lisdorferland. It was changed when he was brought to the United States in 2015.Rex was a multi-purpose dog certified in narcotics detection, building searches, tracking criminal apprehension and officer protection. He was a partner to Cpl. Bhirdo and the rest of the Cudahy Police Department. He and Cpl. Bhirdo was also assigned to the South Shore Joint Tactical Unit where they took part in several high-risk search warrants and tactical operations in Milwaukee County. Both also helped the Milwaukee FBI in several operations while both served the community on active duty.In April of 2021, police said Cpl. Bhirdo decided to take a break from law enforcement to raise her family and Rex retried permanently to live his best life.Police said Rex passed away at home surrounded by his family on Feb. 9, 2025, at the age of 12.”Rex was a very good boy and he will be missed,” the police department said.

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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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