K9 Cwyk – Eugene, Oregon

Died – 2/28/23
Handler – Officer Owen Griffith

Eugene Police Department mourns loss of talented police dog

A very talented and successful police dog with the Eugene Police Department has passed away on Tuesday. February 28 after years of faithful service, the department said.K-9 Cwyk joined EPD in 2017, and trained with his handler, Officer Owen Griffith, in October of 2018. The pair was certified as a team that December and hit the streets shortly afterward. EPD said Officer Griffith and Cwyk’s bond, as well as Cwyk’s excellent tracking ability, led to a number of patrol apprehensions, and the dog was soon selected for EPD SWAT’s tactical K-9 team. EPD said Cwyk was an invaluable asset for the SWAT team, and a joyful presence back at the office. EPD said Cwyk’s impressive record included dozens of apprehensions, and he would tirelessly track down suspects. EPD said Cwyk once tracked down a would-be thief through six inches of snow, and helped subdue a barricaded suspect in a dangerous SWAT situation swathed in tear gas. Eugene police said Cwyk was known for his phenomenal tracking ability, and he was called one of the most talented and successful K-9 dogs in EPD’s history.Cwyk’s exploits were frequent features of EPD’s police actions, and the dog’s work made frequent appearances here on KEZI 9 News.

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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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