K9 Bacca – Herefordshire, England

Handler – PC Mike Davey

Hero police dog slashed with knife in Herefordshire dies

A former police dog who was slashed with a knife while saving the life of his handler in Herefordshire has died. West Mercia Police said it was “with great sadness” it reported PD Bacca, who worked for the force from 2013 to 2019 before retiring with his handler PC Mike Davey, had died. Paying tribute to PD Bacca, officers from around Herefordshire said he was a special dog and a “true legend” as he was injured in the early-morning attack. A man was wielding a knife in Bromyard, while smashing shop windows, but PD Bacca saved the life of his handler PC Davey as they tried to bring the rampage to an end. Responding to the news, police officers from Bromyard said: “Such sad news. Retired PD Bacca was special to the Bromyard community. “His heroic actions helped keep our small town safe one night in June 2018, despite sustaining multiple knife wounds during the incident. RIP Bacca.” Officers from Hereford added: “Very sad news to hear of the passing of PD Bacca. “A true legend of police dogs in Herefordshire. “Many an officer felt a sigh of relief when Bacca and his handler Mike arrived at a job.”   It was in June 2018 when PC Davey was responding to an incident in Bromyard where a man armed with a knife was smashing shop windows in the early hours of the morning. As he attempted to stop him, the man used the knife. PC Davey suffered injuries to his hands. Despite Bacca being slashed a number of times, he returned to protect PC Davey before eventually helping to bring down the man. But after being arrested and charged for the attack, Mesut Olgun, 30, from Watling Way, Bristol reportedly suffered injuries to his head, neck and elbow while in custody at HMP Hewell in Worcestershire. He died in hospital on June 14, 2018. PD Bacca and PC Mike Davey retired from the force in February 2019, before PD Bacca was presented with a Gold Medal Award from the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) during a special ceremony later that year, an award that is a dog’s equivalent to The George Cross. They then featured in a TV show in 2020.

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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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