K9 Crema – Seattle, Washington – U.S. Coast Guard

Handler – Officer William Porter

U.S. Coast Guard mourns K9 Crema

K9 Crema was, a yellow Labrador explosives detection canine with the Coast Guard Base in Seattle Washington. Crema took part in numerous explosives detection missions, including providing explosive protection for 700,000 fans during the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl parade. Crema was originally set to retire at the beginning of Summer before Porter transferred to his next unit. Taps on a bugle was played and K9 Crema’s ashes were placed in the Puget Sound May 26, 2016. With Crema passing at the age of nine, there are now only 16 Canine Explosive Detection Teams Coast Guard-wide.

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.