K9 Diesel – Elmhurst, Illinois

Died – 4/17/19
Handler – Officer Poli

Elmhurst mourns death of police dog Diesel

A police dog named Diesel, who has served in Elmhurst for nearly nine years, died this week from liver cancer, officials said Friday. A 10-year-old Belgian malinois, Diesel was trained as a tracker to lead officers to evidence at crime scenes and to be protective of his handler and partner, officer Tony Poli. Diesel “also enjoyed a rubber ball and a good rub following a successful track or alert,” the city said in a news release. Diesel served with the department since June 14, 2010. His cancer was discovered during a recent visit to the vet and he died Wednesday. Officials said Diesel “will be remembered for the dedication and honorable service that he gave to the community and to his partner, officer Poli. Police K-9’s such as Diesel are regarded as active members of the department and are special members of the police family.”

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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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