K9 Will – New York State Police

Died 10/23/17
Handler – Trooper Shaun R. Smith

State Police K9 killed in accident while in performance of his duties

State Police are investigating the death of one of their K9s, who was killed Monday evening in the North Country in performance of his duties. According to authorities, State Police were assisting the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office around 11 p.m. Monday with a search warrant at a residence on Woodcreek Road in the Town of Greig.Trooper Shaun R. Smith, and his partner, K9 Will, were at the residence. Upon execution of the warrant, a pit bull dog ran from the residence and began to attack K9 Will, police said. Smith discharged one round from his handgun, striking the leg of the pit bull. A preliminary investigation found that the bullet Smith fired appeared to ricochet off the gravel stone driveway and entered the stomach of K9 Will, according to police. K9 Will was transported to Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Lowville where he succumbed to his injury.Police said K9 Will was a 3-year-old Belgian-Malinois, and graduated from the State Police basic K9 school back in April. He had been named after Trooper William G. Doyle, who was shot and killed by escapees from a mental institution in 1967.

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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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