K9 Sarge – Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Died – 5/8/19

Johnstown police dog diagnosed with cancer receives end of watch call

It was a tough day for a local police department, as officers had to say goodbye to one of their own, a partner who protected and served the city of Johnstown. Canine unit Sarge was euthanized Wednesday after developing fast-progressing cancer just a short while ago. Squad cars lined Eisenhower Boulevard Wednesday morning with their lights flashing, slowly approaching the Richland veterinary hospital. “Being a former canine handler, it’s a little different,” said Johnstown police Capt. Jeff Janciga. “You’re with that dog not only when you’re at home but when you’re at work, so there is more of a bond.”“When you handle a police canine, it is at home with you and your family is exposed to the dog, and in most cases, it is a pretty good relationship and a bond that develops where that dog is equally protective of your family,” said Janciga. Sarge was a Belgian Malinois, a hard-working breed. The Johnstown Police Department’s canines actually come from Belgium and are purchased from a K-9 farm in Florida. Sarge was trained and certified in patrol, apprehension and firearms detection. He was deployed numerous times in his career for related cases. “The term for police canines is force multiplier,” said Janciga. “People with officers nowadays, they will challenge, they will fight at times, they will run. The presence of a police canine eliminates a lot of that because while people won’t hesitate to take their chances with police, when it comes to a police canine, they’re a bit more hesitant.”Sarge received an end of watch call Wednesday.

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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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