K9 Bruin – Saugus, Massachusetts

Died – 3/14/19
Handler – Officer Fawcett

Saugus Police to honor cancer-stricken K-9 with final ride

The Saugus Police Department will give a final ride through town for one of its heroes. Officer Fawcett and Bruin spent 24 hours per day, seven days per week together since they became K9 partners in 2011, Saugus Police Interim Chief Ronald Giorgetti said. Bruin was 16 months old when he joined the Saugus Police Department. Trained in narcotics detection, Bruin played an important role in tracking individuals and performing drug searches in vehicles and buildings, Giorgetti explained. Blessed with a friendly disposition, Bruin was very approachable to adults and children alike, Giorgetti said. He estimated that Fawcett and his K9 partner participated in more than 500 community events during their time as partners.Fawcett and Bruin forged a very close bond working together and living under the same roof every day. “This is a very difficult period for Officer Fawcett knowing that he has lost his partner,” Giorgetti said. Montano thanked the representatives from the Saugus Police Department and other municipalities who turned out to escort Bruin for his one final ride. Melrose, Medford, Malden, Revere, Everett, Chelsea, Palmer, Essex County and Middlesex County were among the K9 teams to turn out for Bruin. “It’s hard to put into words how proud I am of the K9 community,” Montano said. “To have this kind of showing to support a fellow K9 officer is pretty incredible.”Residents watched from homes and honked their horns as the police escort wound through Saugus. Oaklandvale Elementary School students lined sidewalks with homemade signs that thanked Bruin for his dedicated service. The Saugus Police Department and the Saugus Police Patrol Officers Union put out a joint press release in which they stated they are forever thankful for the outreach and support that the community has shown to K9 Bruin and the Fawcett family. “Please keep the Fawcett family in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days,” the statement reads. Montano said he spoke with Fawcett, who couldn’t believe the degree to which the police community rallied for Bruin. “He is very emotional but completely blown away by the amount of support from the K9 community,” Montano 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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