K9 Brix – Chicago, Illinois

Died 3/28/18
Handler – Officer Tara Poremba

Chicago Police Say Goodbye To Only Cadaver Search K9

Officer Poremba…. a quiet moment saying goodbye to her partner, K9 Brix.
The Chicago Police Department’s only cadaver search dog has died following a battle with cancer. The canine, Brix, was put down Thursday, March 28, at Partners and Paws Veterinary Services in Lisle, according to police. Born in the Czech Republic, Brix was trained in patrol, narcotics and cadaver search. The 10-year-old dog was on the force from 2008 to 2018. “Brix loved going to work, anything to make me happy,” said K9 unit Officer Tara Poremba, who was the dog’s first and only handler. “He will be in my heart forever. I miss him terribly.” Brix had been diagnosed with cancer and was in the late stages of the disease before his death.

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.