K9 Ben – Washoe, Nevada

Died – 5/28/17
Handler – Deputy Cole Bunyard

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office mourns the passing of retired K9

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of their retired K9s, Ben. K9 Ben passed away, with his partner at his side, retired Deputy Cole Bunyard, on Sunday, May 28 due to medical complications. Ben was partnered with Deputy Bunyard in Oct. 2006. He was a high drive 15-month-old Shepard from the prestigious Vohne Liche Kennels. K9 Ben’s career involved a number of assignments, including patrol and highway interdiction. He was also considered a valued tracker for missing and lost people. Deputy Bunyard and K9 Ben were assigned as the resident deputy in Gerlach between 2010 and 2014. Ben is credited with saving his partner’s life after Deputy Bunyard was violently attacked without warning during a traffic stop in Gerlach on Dec. 17, 2011. As a result of Ben’s heroic effort, both K9 Ben and Deputy Bunyard received a “Survivor Award” from the James D. Hoff Police Memorial. K9 Ben was responsible for numerous apprehensions and arrests as well as the removal of countless amounts of illegal narcotics from the streets of Washoe County.

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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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