K9 Hans – Hoover, Alabama

Died – 11/10/18
Handler – Officer Lee Love

Hoover Police Department mourns the loss of K-9 Officer Hans

The Hoover Police department announce the passing of K-9 Officer Hans. In a statement the department released, they said, It is with heavy hearts and sadness that we announce the passing of one of our retired K-9s, Hans. Hans passed away on November 10th due to an illness. Hans began his working career with “Seeing Eyes for the Blind”. Due to his amazing drive, the ATF selected Hans to go through their training program in 2006. He worked there until Hoover PD acquired him in 2007. He served the Hoover community for over a decade, and was always happy to go to work with Officer Lee Love. Officer Love shared: “He had been my partner for 11 years. He was an amazing K9 that built a reputation as one of the best explosive detection dogs in the state. We worked 2 Super Bowls, pro baseball games, NASCAR at Talladega, every Alabama home football game for 8 years, did searches for Presidents, Vice Presidents, Supreme Court Judges, Dalai Lama and every VIP that came to the city of Hoover or surrounding area. While execution of criminal search warrants, he found evidence that has put 3 bad guys into Federal Prison. Besides all of this, Hans was a loving dog that was so gentle with everyone he met. There will never be another like him. I will miss my puppy.” We will never forget Hans and he will forever be in our hearts. Thank you for your service, Hans. Good boy, job well done. Rest in peace, we’ll take the Watch from here. Officer Hans began position July 2007 at the age of two.

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.