K9 Adam – Salem, Missouri

Died – 12/10/16
Handler – Sergeant Joe Chase

Salem PD bids farewell to Adam, K9 officer

“Adam always came through, whenever somebody couldn’t find something he’d take us right to it,” said Sergeant Joe Chase, Adam’s partner and handler. “He’d just gotten a heroin dealer last week. That was par for the course with Adam.” Chase estimated Adam had been involved in close to 1,000 arrests during his time with the department. Adam was also a fixture among youth in the community, having participated every year in Serendipity at the Salem Upper Elementary, reading programs at William Lynch Elementary and community events such as Red Ribbon week. “Adam belonged to the community, I just took care of him,” Chase concluded. Among those present for Adam’s burial were Salem Chief of Police Keith Steelman, sheriff Rick Stallings, as well as members of the Salem Police Department, Dent County Sheriff’s Office, highway patrol, emergency responders with Salem Memorial District Hospital and officials from Boulder Creek Performance K9.

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.