K9 Duke – San Angelo – Texas

Died 1/30/24
Handler – Officer Frank Flores

San Angelo PD K9, Duke, has died

The San Angelo Police Department is mourning the loss of K9 Duke.The department announced Duke’s crossing the rainbow bridge Wednesday afternoon.Duke served in the department for seven years and 10 months, starting in 2013. After he was retired from the department, Duke lived with his previous handler and partner, Officer Frank Flores. “Officer Flores, the Flores family, and the San Angelo Police Department are deeply saddened at the loss of such a well-loved and devoted member of our police family. K9 Duke was a hard-working partner who selflessly served the citizens of the City of San Angelo and Tom Green County,” an SAPD release said.Duke was responsible for finding large quantities of illegal narcotics, evidence and contraband during his career.

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.