K9 Hawk – Cochise, Arizona

Died – 11/19/24
Handler – Marshal John Cody

Southern Arizona deputy marshal forced to shoot, kill K-9 during attack

A Tombstone deputy marshal was forced to shoot and kill his K-9 partner after the dog attacked him, according to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office.The CCSO said it happened Tuesday around 5 a.m. on the second floor of the Tombstone Marshal’s Office, located on Fremont Street.Deputy Marshal John Cody told investigators that he was working with his K-9, two-year-old Hawk, when the dog attacked him.“Cody advised that the K-9 latched onto his leg and would not let go, causing serious ankle/leg injury,” CCSO said in a release. “Deputy Marshal Cody was able to get into the bathroom and partially close the door in an effort to get the K-9 to unlatch from the bite.”The CCSO said Hawk would not let go and Cody was forced to shoot him.Hawk died at the scene and Cody was airlifted to a Tucson hospital for treatment for his leg injuries.Cody is off-duty on medical leave during the investigation.“We value our K-9 program and handlers,” said Tombstone Marshal Jim Adams. “We are confident a thorough and objective evaluation of this unfortunate incident will be completed by the Sheriff’s Office.”The department is investigating the incident as an officer-involved shooting.This is the 35th officer-involved shooting outside of Maricopa County and the 83rd in the state in 2024.

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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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