K9 Bane – Tulare, California

Died – 12/9/18

California Police K-9 Killed, Officer Wounded in Shootout

Tulare Police K-9 Baine was killed ,an officer was wounded and one other person was also killed in a shootout Sunday night that erupted following a police pursuit. One person was killed and a police officer was injured Sunday night in a gunfight on the outskirts of Tulare, the Police Department has confirmed. A Tulare police dog named Bane also was killed in the shootout, police said a news release. At least one other person also was shot. That person’s condition was described by police as “grave.” The police officer was shot in the torso and hand but “his vest did its job and he doesn’t appear to be seriously injured,” authorities said. The violence erupted following a car chase around 7 p.m. that ended on Tulare Avenue, just west of Palm Street, officers said in the statement. Investigators said the vehicle sped away from the officer during an attempted traffic stop in Tulare. Once the chase reached Tulare Avenue, just west of the town, shots were fired. Police did not comment on the number of shots fired or the number of weapons involved. Three people were inside the vehicle in question, police said. Two were shot. The third person in the vehicle was not injured, police said, but was taken to an area hospital for “observational purposes.” The investigation has turned over to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department. Police on Sunday did not release the identities of any of the people involved in the gunfight.

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.