K9 Hitch – Puyallup, Washington

Handler – Det. Scott Lien

Retired Puyallup K9, Hitch, Dies

A 35 dog-year veteran of Puyallup police died recently. The K9 Hitch, who served from 2006 to 2011, died over the weekend. Hitch lived with his long-time handler, Det. Scott Lien. According to Puyallup police, Hitch and Lien were responsible for some 50 apprehensions during Hitch’s time on the force. Hitch joined Puyallup police in July 2006 after K9 Dakota died. Hitch was 6-1/2 years old when he joined Puyallup police. In 2011, Lien moved to Richland to work for the police department there. He requested the city let Hitch retire so that Lien could take him to Eastern Washington. The city granted that request, and Hitch apparently lived out the rest of his life in leisure – with the occasional squirrel chase for old times. “Hitch lived the good life with Det. Lien after his retirement in 2011 relaxing and chasing the occasional squirrel. Thank you for your SERVICE Hitch. You will be missed,” Puyallup police wrote on Instagram.

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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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