K9 A-ROD – Grant County, Wisconsin

Died – 7/7/15
Handler – Deputy Jay Fitzgerald

Police dog euthanized after attacking deputy

A Grant County police dog was euthanized Tuesday after it attacked and injured its deputy handler during the weekend.  “This was a very difficult decision to make,” Sheriff Nate Dreckmann told Madison.com. “It was not made in haste, and we looked at all the alternatives we were presented prior to making the decision.” A-Rod, who worked with Deputy Jay Fitzgerald for 3 1/2 years, caused a significant arm injury to the deputy. The injury required many stitches to close. It was the first time a Grant County police dog attacked a fellow officer. “Deputy Fitzgerald had a K9 prior to this as well,” Dreckman said. “We are looking at what to do to replace the K9, but it will be a little while before we make any decisions on it.” Dreckman told Madison.com that Fitzgerald’s family was right there when the incident happened, but nobody else in the family was injured. “A-Rod was very productive, not only with several significant drug seizures during his time working for the sheriff’s office, but for several search and rescue operations as well,” Dreckman said. Fitzgerald was treated for the injured arm and released, but he won’t return to work for a while, the sheriff said.”We are thankful for the service A-Rod gave to the citizens of Grant County,” Dreckman said.

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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.
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