K9 Astro – Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Handler – Sgt. Charles Pettis 

Retired Fort Walton Beach police K-9 Astro dies

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department announces the passing of their Retired K-9 Astro. K-9 Astro was adopted by the Fort Walton Beach Police Department in 2011 from the Lackland Air Force Base Military Working Dog Program. There he was known by his ID P694 and was 2 years old at the time. K-9 Astro was a member of the Fort Walton Beach Police Department and assigned to Sgt. Charles Pettis. During his six years of service to the city of Fort Walton Beach, K-9 Astro was instrumental in community engagement and narcotic enforcement. “Children, and adults alike, loved his sweet-natured demeanor,” said the Fort Walton Beach Police in a Facebook post. When Sgt. Pettis was promoted in July 2016, K-9 Astro retired and went to live permanently with the Pettis family in their home. Since that time, K-9 Astro has enjoyed retired life with his furry siblings. “Astro was my partner, my shadow. I couldn’t move two feet without him beside me. He was my ear through some difficult times. Astro and I were truly a match for each other,” Sgt. Pettis said. Memorial service arrangements will be announced soon. “We have the watch from here,” Fort Walton Beach Police wrote in a Facebook post.

 

Tags

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.
| Old Memorials | Site Map
Copyright © 1973 - 2024 Louise Krause Memorials to Fallen K-9's Hosted By PC-GEEK Site Maintained BY Jim Cortina