K9 Gunner – Blaine, Minnesota

Died 2/10/17
Handler – Officer Greg Rowe

Retired Blaine police dog Gunner dies

Gunner, a German Shepherd who worked alongside Blaine Police Officer Greg Rowe for more than six years, died Feb. 10. “The Blaine Police Department is proud to have had Gunner as one of their K9’s. He was a great partner to Officer Rowe and the many officers and citizens he protected over the years,” the department said in a statement. February 2008, Gunner became the department’s only K-9 after more than 25 years of the department not having one. He was born in Slovakia and came to the United States to be trained as a police dog. The Blaine Public Safety Association, a citizen’s group, raised money to help the city pay not only for Gunner, but future Blaine K-9s Remy and Rex. The department never had more than two K-9s at one time. Remy was brought in to replace Gunner when osteoarthritis ended Gunner’s career earlier than anticipated in July 2014. Even after retirement, Gunner continued to live with Rowe’s family. “Gunner and Officer Rowe can be proud of what they accomplished. They provided distinguished service to the community while participating in numerous K-9 tracks, apprehensions, drug searches and community events,” the Blaine Police Department said.

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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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