K9 Joker – Centerville, Utah

Handler – Officer Jason Read

Centerville Police Department mourns death of retired K9

A retired K9 who previously worked for the Centerville Police Department died this week. K9 Joker worked with Officer Jason Read for several years until health problems forced him to retire early, according to a Facebook post published by the department. The partners were responsible for making several drug seizures, appeared at schools and other community events, and helped keep the community safe. After retiring, Joker “spent the rest of his life with the Read family where he enjoyed long naps and being well taken care of,” the post stated. After retiring, Joker “spent the rest of his life with the Read family where he enjoyed long naps and being well taken care of,” the post stated. Read passed away in October of 2018 due to injuries caused by an off-duty motorcycle crash. Joker continued to live with the Read family until he died.

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.