K9 Rosco – Hartford, Connecticut

Died – 6/12/20
Handler – Officer Joseph Mauro

K9 Rosco Passed Away

The Connecticut Police Work Dog Association is sad to announce the passing of retired K9 Rosco who was the partner of Officer Joseph Mauro with the Hartford Police Department. K9 Rosco passed away on 6/12/20 at the age of 12 years old. Joe and Rosco joined the CPWDA on 10/5/13 and was certified in Patrol. They were CPWDA Members in 2014, 2015 & 2020 and served from 2010 – 2018. He was a valuable asset to the Hartford Police Department and will be missed by all those that had the opportunity to work with him. K9 Rosco will be missed by the Mauro family as well as the entire Hartford Police Department and citizens. K9 Rosco we thank you for your service. Once you get to heaven, find a fellow officer. “Tell him you are a police K-9 and you are reporting for duty. R.I.P. Rosco

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.