K9 Shaya – Marion, Illinois

Died – 3/26/18
Handler – Officer Tyson Baker

Marion Police Department bids farewell to beloved K9 officer Shaya

The Marion Police Department said goodbye to one of its own on Monday. Trained in patrol, tracking, and drug detection, “Shaya,” a Belgian Malinois Shepherd, had been employed with the MPD since 2014. According to the City of Marion Police Facebook page, the 6-year-old K9 officer passed away due to a non-operable brain tumor. Shaya was born in the Netherlands on April 21, 2012, and completed her police K9 training at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana. She was partnered with MPD officer Tyson Baker. In a heartfelt message on his Facebook pages, Baker wrote about the loss of his partner.”Forty hours per week were spent with her right there with me. Every single call, every single traffic stop. Shaya watched me. She protected me.” Baker wrote that Shaya was more than just a working dog. She was a member of his family. He noted Shaya’s contributions to keeping Marion safe, including assistance with “countless” narcotics investigations, multiple shooting and domestic violence suspects, and the apprehension of two armed robbery suspects in the Borowiak’s IGA robbery. In addition to street patrol, Shaya helped with drug searches, assisted with ERT operations, and performed canine demonstrations in local schools and churches.

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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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