K9 Gunnar – Houston, Texas

Died – 1/12/19
Handler – Senior Officer Gregory Smith

Houston Police Department announces death of former K9 officer, Gunnar

On Saturday morning, the Houston Police Department announced the death of former K9 officer, Gunnar. Gunnar retired late 2018 and is now being remembered as a great ambassador for his department. Gunnar was a patrol/ explosives / SWAT, He was responsible for over 200 arrests. HE was called upon to assist the Austin Police Department with the search of the bomber where he received an award for Valor and a Governor’s award. He was social enough to do demonstrations and shoot a commercial for the 100 club. He has been called upon to assist other agencies’ with large scenes including the Santa Fe school shooting, bomb threat in Beaumont’s court house. He participated in numerous SWAT scenes and conducted EOD searches for Super Bowl 51 along with EOD searches in the Astros’s World series and play-off games. He loved kids and was very good at community events and school functions. He was protective yet loving to his family and while at home, he was able to just be a dog and chase squirrel and rabbits and swim in the pool.

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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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