K9 Conan – Lake Villa, Illinois

Handler – Deputy Robert Bell

Retired Lake Villa Police Department K-9 dies

A retired police dog who served for the Lake Villa Police Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office has died, officials announced. The Lake Villa Police Department announced on Facebook Monday afternoon that canine Conan had passed away. Conan had served the citizens of Lake County for nearly a decade, according to Lake Villa police officials. “It is with a heavy heart and sadness that the Lake Villa Police Department is announcing the passing of K9 Conan,” police officials said. Conan served with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office starting in 2009 with his handler Deputy Robert Bell and left in 2014 to work with the Lake Villa Police Department. “He has been retired since 2017 but is far from forgotten. Thank you Conan for your service, you will be forever in our hearts,” police officials added. Conan was trained in article and building searches, tracking, and cadaver and narcotics searches.

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.