K9 Ivan – Madison, Wisconsin

Died – 4/3/18
Handler – Officer Henry Wilson

Former Madison K-9 dies

The Madison Police Department announced Tuesday that one of its former K-9s died. According to a Facebook post, K-9 Ivan died at 12 years old. It said he served the MPD from 2007 to 2012. During his service, Ivan tracked down criminals and found lost people. His partner, Officer Henry Wilson, said Ivan was “hardworking, intense, but gentle, with a particular fondness for spending time with children, the disabled and seniors.” “He somehow intuitively knew these people needed him … and seemed to enjoy these interactions as much as true police work,” Wilson said. According to the Facebook post, Ivan spent his last days with Wilson, riding in his favorite squad car.

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.