K9 Tank – Canada

Died – 3/23/18
Handler – Sgt. Bill Frisby

RCMP bid final goodbye to retired police service dog Tank

It’s been a sad couple of days for the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador. The police force announced in a news release on Monday afternoon police service dog Tank died after a brief and unexpected illness this past Friday, March 23. Tank, who was born at Innisfail, Alta. in August 2008, retired from the force after eight years of dedicated service last November. “Over his years of service to the RCMP, Tank has found missing berry pickers, criminals and even accident victims that had wandered into the woods,” said Sgt. Bill Frisby, Tank’s handler and lead of the RCMP Police Dog Service Unit in the province. “Tank was a dedicated team player. As soon as we arrived to any scene, he was ready to give 100 per cent.”

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.