K9 Bear – Raynham, Massachusetts

Handler – Sgt. Donovan

Raynham police chief’s retired K-9 passes away

The Raynham Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its beloved K-9s.Raynham Police Chief James Donovan said K-9 Bear passed away earlier this month.K-9 Bear, a 14-year-old German Shepherd born in Hungary, began his career with then-Sgt. Donovan in 2009. In his first three years with the department, Donovan said K-9 Bear responded to more than 130 calls and found 30 people.When Donovan was promoted to chief in 2011, he became the only police chief in Massachusetts to have a working K-9.Despite retiring in 2017, K-9 Bear continued to accompany Donovan to work every day and was well known within the department. “K-9 Bear was an instrumental member of our department and worked diligently on many searches and investigations,” Donovan said. “He truly lived a great life and his retirement was filled with one of his favorite activities – naps.”Donovan said K-9 Bear passed away surrounded by his family.“He is deeply missed,” Donovan said.

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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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