K9 Bane – Newport News, Virginia

Died 5/7/18
Handler – Officer B. Keller

Newport News police mourning loss of retired K-9 Bane

The Newport News Police Department is mourning the loss of retired K-9 Bane, according to a Facebook post. The K-9 unit said Bane succumbed to cancer on May 7. He joined the unit in 2011. Bane was a patrol and narcotics dog and was partnered with MPO B. Keller. The Facebook post said Bane had an “incredible nose” and “led to the seizure of multiple guns and drugs and the arrests of several fleeing fugitives and criminal suspects.” Bane retired June 2017 and enjoyed taking trips and loved everyone he met. Police said Bane’s last afternoon was spent at one of his favorite places, Yorktown Beach, where he enjoyed a picnic of “deliciously fatty foods, played ball and got to be a beach bum.” Seaford Veterinary Medical Center cared for Bane during his retirement.

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.