K9 Les – Cookeville, Tennessee

Died – 12/17/18

CPD K-9 Les passes away

The Cookeville Police Department announced the passing of K-9 Les Monday. Les was a multi-purpose dog to the department who served from July 2006 to 2013 when he retired from full duty. “K-9 Les was a dual purpose K9 who was successful in finding drugs, apprehending suspects, clearing buildings for officers and tracking those needing found,” said Lt. James Harris, the CPD’s K9 coordinator. “He was a great dog and asset to this department.” K-9 Les was 14-years-old. “He was one of the toughest little dogs that we ever had the pleasure and honor to work beside. He will be greatly missed by the Cookeville Police K9 Team and all of us at the Cookeville Police Department. Thanks Les for your service!” The CPD has used K9s since the 1990s, according to Lt. Harris. Currently, the department has six canines.

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.