K9 Odin – Toronto, Canada

Died – 6/1/18
Handler – Sgt. Mike Quinn

Toronto police mourn the loss of ‘Superstar’ police dog

The Toronto Police Service have lost one of their own; police service dog Odin died on Friday after a sudden illness, tweeted his handler and partner. On Saturday, Toronto police Sgt. Mike Quinn announced on Twitter with “a heavy heart” the passing of his partner of five years, saying “he will be sorely missed.” Quinn spent 24-hours a day, 7 days a week with his partner Odin, they trained together, worked together and lived together, said Staff Sgt. Darla Tannahill, a friend and colleague of both Quinn and Odin. She said Quinn is devastated, along with his entire family, “both blood and blue.” “We all know Odin, he was a superstar here,” Tannahill said to the Star. “We’re all aching.” Tannahill took to Twitter to express her sadness and honor her lost team member.

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.