K9 Tex – Barrie, Canada

Died – 8/15/18
Handler – PC Cooper

Barrie Police mourns loss of retired service dog, Tex

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of retired Barrie Police service dog (PSD) Tex. Sadly, Tex passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 13. From 2006 to 2015, he bravely served the City of Barrie with pride and loyalty. Tex spent 24-hours a day, seven days a week with his handler PC Cooper; they trained together, worked together and lived together. Throughout his years of service, he was incredibly loved and an asset to the Service and the community. Tex worked for the thrill of it, and over the years he was successful in locating missing persons, tracking and arresting suspects, detecting illegal drugs and was specifically devoted to protecting and backing up his handler and fellow officers. Tex was a friend and colleague to the members of the Barrie Police Service and our thoughts are with his handler and his family at this difficult time.

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.