K9 Dozer – KwaMadlala, South Africa

Died – 10/16/16
Handler – Constable Orlando Nyawose

Police dog killed in the line of duty

Constable Orlando Nyawose is mourning the loss of his K9 partner, Dozer. The dog died after being stabbed in KwaMadlala, Umzumbe last Sunday. The Port Shepstone K9 Unit and Tactical Response Team (TRT) responded to a call from a woman who reported that a man in KwaMadlala had become ‘very violent’ and was threatening to stab people. “It was also reported that the 25-year-old man had earlier assaulted a woman (82) in Izingolweni,” said police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid. The man had apparently hit the old woman in the face before stabbing her daughter below the eye and in the hand when she tried to intervene. He then fled to KwaMadlala. When the man saw police approaching, he fled into the bush. Constable Nyawose, released Dozer to apprehend the suspect. As the dog grabbed the man by the arm, the man stabbed Dozer in the neck. “Constable Nyawose tried to arrest the man. The man was shot in the leg by another officer after he attempted to stab Const Nyawose. Several warning shots were ignored,” added Lt-Col Wiid. The police dog was rushed to the vet but died on arrival. The suspect also died. A devastated Const Nyawose is struggling to come to terms with the fact that his K9 partner will not be by his side when he resumes duties. The two had formed a very close bond since they began working together.

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.