K9 Darth – Robinson, Texas

Died 10/1/20
Handler – Cpl. Ryan Collins

Retired drug dog passes away

The City of Robinson is mourning the loss of a former police K9 officer. Darth was a narcotic detection canine for the Robinson Police Department alongside his handler Cpl. Ryan Collins. After starting in 2011, the black Labrador retired from RPD in Jan. 2019. Officials announced Darth died Oct. 1. During his eight years in service, he assisted in hundreds of vehicle searches all over McLennan County resulting in arrests, and he helped keep drugs out of schools. Rusty Smith, former chief of police for RPD who is now retired, said Darth was one f the best K9s he’d ever known. “My condolences to the Collins family that he knew as ‘his family,’” said Smith. “Condolences to his handler, Ryan Collins, who was Darth’s best friend.” Smith said Darth was paid for through drug forfeiture funds and didn’t cost the tax payers a cent. “There were some substantial arrests made, both in Robinson and in the area, as a result of Darth’s keen nose,” said Smith. “They were truly an awesome team.”

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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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