K9 Boss – Redondo Beach, California

Handler – Officer Robert Carlborg

Redondo Beach K9 Officer Boss has died

A Redondo Beach police dog named Boss, who had to cut his crime-fighting career short when he was diagnosed recently with spinal cancer, has died. The Belgian Malinois was 2 1/2 years old. In his final days, Boss was made comfortable at the home of his partner, Officer Robert Carlborg. The two had just started to gel as partners when veterinarians discovered Boss had spinal cancer. It soon began to spread to his limbs, which made working impossible. During his 14 months on the Redondo Beach police force, Boss conducted 45 searches and assisted in locating 31 suspects, according to the department. “Boss was loved by everyone around him and will be sorely missed by Officer Carlborg and his family,” according to a press release issued by the Redondo Beach Police Department. No memorial service is planned at this time.

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.