K9 Riki – Lubbock, Texas

Died – 2/5/19
Handler – Corporal Brock Gruner

Retired Lubbock Police K9 Riki passes away from unexpected illness

A four legged member of Lubbock’s finest passed away Tuesday night. Riki, a longtime narcotics dog with the Lubbock police Department died from an unexpected illness. Riki retired last July after four years of service in drug seizures and patrol arrests. He went home with his handler, Corporal Brock Gruner who says he couldn’t have asked for a better partner. In a statement on the Lubbock Police Department Facebook page, Corporal Gruner talked about his pet and friend. “He loved what he did and was always ready to go assist in apprehending the suspect. No matter what we were doing, he was always 100% committed to doing his job and never hesitated when I asked him to do something. In my opinion, he was the best partner for me to have as new canine handler,” Gruner said.

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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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