K9 Grif – Wyomissing, Pennsylvania

Handler – Ofc. Paul Baur

Grif, Wyomissing police officer’s retired K9 partner, dies

The Wyomissing Police Department is bidding farewell to a dedicated member of the force. Retired K9 Ofc. Grif has died. Grif retired in 2016, after having spent eight years as the department’s lone K9 officer and the partner of Ofc. Paul Baur. “He’s the best partner in the world,” Baur told 69 News at the time of Grif’s retirement. “He always had my back.” The German shepherd remained strong in his later years of service, despite a struggle with Lyme disease. Baur told 69 News in 2016 that he and Grif followed a daily routine that typically began with a stop at Dunkin’ Donuts: coffee for Baur and a treat for Grif. “It started out with him getting biscuits,” Baur recalled. “The one day they were out of biscuits, and they asked if he likes donuts. I said, ‘Of course, he likes donuts. He’s a cop.”

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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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