K9 Edo – Knox, Illinois

Handler – Sgt. Greg Jennings

Former Knox County K-9 Edo passes away

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of a former K9 officer.K9 Edo served the people of Knox County from April of 2015 to late 2018, with his handler Sgt. Greg Jennings, the sheriff’s office said.During that time K9 Edo specialized in narcotics detection, as well as tracking and apprehension, according to the sheriff’s office.K9 Edo was a valued member of the Knox County team and provided K9 services to every agency within Knox County as well as surrounding counties.At the time K9 Edo came into service, Knox County did not have a K9 team, the sheriff’s office said. K9 Edo’s abilities and willingness to work, helped pave the way for what is today a growing K9 program.K9 Edo retired in 2018 when Sgt Jennings moved to Investigations.

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.