K9 Rokky – Harker Heights, Texas

Died – 10/2/17
Handler – Officer Gabrielle Guerra

Harker Heights mourns loss of police K9

The Harker Heights Police Department announced the passing of K9 Rokky on Monday. “Rokky passed away earlier this morning, surrounded by those who meant the most to him including his partner, Officer Gabrielle Guerra and family,” the police department said. Rokky was with the department from April 1, 2009, until he was medically retired in 2016. During his career, Rokky found a missing child on his first active tracking call out, assisted with several agencies including the Harker Heights SWAT Team and the Bell County Organized Crime Task Force, found numerous fugitives and helped get narcotics and drug money off the streets, police said. Rokky was beloved throughout the community.

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.