K9 Willie – Gary, Indiana

Handler – Officer Donald Briggs

K9 Willie Poisoned

A K-9 officer on the Gary police force suddenly dies after being poisoned. CBS 2’s Steven Graves reports on how the devastating loss hits especially hard for the department’s K-9 unit as a whole. K-9 Willie was his name. He was one of the newest recruits to the Gary Police Department’s K-9 unit. Gary police said it’s still unclear how this new police K-9 got sick, adding to the shock and grief over his sudden death. “It’s just a tragedy how it happened,” said Staci Goveia. Gone before the hard work began, after officers say he died from poisoning. “It’s more typical for a K-9 to pass on from cancer or old age. It’s not typically hear about a poison in a K-9. Staci Goveia is president of the organization Protecting K-9 Heroes. She’s been in close contact with Willie’s partner, Officer Donald Briggs since the police dog died late last month. “He was only with his canine for several short months. It’s an unbreakable bond between those two and it was a very heartfelt loss to Officer Briggs as well as the Gary Police Department,” said Goveia. The Gary K-9 Association is now reaching out to the community for help. On top of Willie’s death, members were preparing to retire an older canine soon. It leaves a big hole in the five dog team that does vital narcotics and other crime fighting work. “I know Gary has tried to raise money in the past for a K-9 and it’s been very very slow going,” said Goveia. “And I don’t know if people don’t understand how important the canines are.” The Gary K-9 Association said it’s dealing with a tight budget and depends heavily on community funds. But a burden they won’t have to worry about is memorializing K-9 Willie. That’s where Goveia stepped in with a donated plaque and painting.It’s now in the hands of the officer dealing with his partner’s untimely death. The investigation is ongoing. It can take thousands of dollars to buy a canine and train it.

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.