K9 Kriss – Lorain, Ohio

Handler – Officer Craig Payne

Our sincerest condolences go out to Officer Payne of Lorain PD and his family, blood and blue, for the loss of his partner, K9 Kriss. K9 Kriss was Officer Payne’s partner for 6 years. He assisted in over 100 arrests, won 2 valor awards, and helped take numerous amounts of drugs off the streets. In both 2013 and 2015, Officer Craig Payne and his K9 partner Kriss received the North American Police Work Dog Association’s prestigious “Valor Award” for their display of bravery in the line of duty during critical incidents.
Likewise, in both 2013 and 2015, Officer Payne and Kriss also won the Gene Jasinski Hero Dog Award and the German Shepherd Dog Club of Northern Ohio Award for Outstanding Valor.According to his family, he loved going to work and had an amazing drive. K9 Kriss retired 2 years ago and had the important role of protecting Officer Payne’s family at home. R.I.P. K9 Kriss. Thank you for your dedicated service. You will not be forgotten.

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.