K9 Dragon – Westbrook, Maine

Died 5/31/16
Handler – Officer Steve Crocker

Westbrook Police mourn loss of beloved retired K-9

The Westbrook Police Department is mourning the loss of one of their beloved K-9s. Dragon, a retired Westbrook K-9, passed away on Memorial Day. Dragon began his career as a police dog in 2003, when he was just 8-months-old. He and his handler, retired Westbrook Officer Steve Crocker, started their training with the New Hampshire Working Dog Foundation, and later trained with the Law Enforcement Dogs of Maine. Dragon proved his abilities with his very first track, in which he located the suspect who fled a traffic stop, after the man crashed his car, climbed a high fence, and fled on foot. After tracking him over several different surfaces, the suspect was located about a mile and a half away, hiding under a car, according to police. More successes followed, with Dragon locating missing and wanted people as well as finding illegal drugs. He and Officer Crocker competed in several regional PD1 Trials, winning several categories, including the over-all top team finish. In 2007, Dragon moved to the Detective Division with Officer Crocker, and continued to perform exceptionally well in his duties. On one occasion, he located drugs and cash hidden in a hidden compartment of a car of a suspected drug trafficker. The money totaled over $17,000, and the find led to the discovery of more drugs and money by drug agents at a second location, according to police. In 2011, Dragon received a Life Saving Award from the Maine Association of Police for locating a woman in a wooded area in Portland, who was attempting to commit suicide. Dragon retired in 2014. “Working with Dragon was the highlight of my career at Westbrook P.D. He was a great partner who worked very hard and made me proud. The past few years he enjoyed a restful retirement and was a valued member of my family. He will be missed,” Officer Crocker 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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