K9 Gabby – York County, South Carolina

Died – 4/9/24
Handler – Sgt. Randy Clinton

Legendary York Co. K-9 dies from health complications

A legendary York County Sheriff’s Office K-9 died on Tuesday due to health complications resulting from a cancer diagnosis.Gabby was honored in the morning by YCSO K-9 team members, Rock Hill Police K-9 Team members, and former handlers before being taken to a veterinarian.“This is heart-crushing news to many in law enforcement and the York County community,” said Sheriff Kevin Tolson. Gabby was truly a one-of-a-kind K-9 and will be hard to replace.”Throughout her career, Gabby accumulated over 300 captures of suspects and found hundreds of missing people. She was the first dog to get the YCSO Medal of Valor for her actions during a shooting incident on Jan.16, 2018, where her handler, Sgt. Randy Clinton was shot in the line of duty.“She was a good one, for sure; if she only caught one suspect, she did her job,” said Clinton. “She was an asset to the citizens of York County and will be missed, but she did her job the best she could, and we honored her as she deserved.”Gabby was a ten-and-a-half-year-old tracking bloodhound who served nine years as a full-time tracking K-9. She also mothered a litter of puppies, who now work for the sheriff’s office and other agencies that have put several other suspects in custody throughout the Carolinas.“Her legacy will live on through those dogs,” said Sgt. Chris Kinsey.

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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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