K9 Blue – Lewes, Delaware

Died – 9/13/20
Handler – PFC Tyrone Woodyard

Lewes Police Mourns Death of K-9 Officer

The Lewes Police Department says its K9 officer has died. K9 Blue was a 9 1/2 year old Belgian Malinois. Police Chief Thomas Spell said Blue died on Sunday. Blue served 7 years with the Lewes Police Department, beginning in March 2013. Blue lived and worked with PFC Tyrone Woodyard and his family. “Blue has made dozens of criminal apprehensions over the years, located illegal drugs and seized thousands of dollars in suspected drug related money,” explains Chief Spell. “Most importantly [he] protected both his partner, other police officers and the public by his mere presence at crime scenes and events.” Chief Spell says the K9 officer served a highly visible public presence, attending hundreds of events and going for walks through Lewes.

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.