K9 Jony – Melrose, Massachusetts

Handler – Officer Joseph H. Donovan

Beloved Melrose police K-9 dies suddenly

The Melrose Police Department is mourning the sudden death of police K-9 Jony over the holiday weekend. The 9-year-old German Shepard was born in Slovakia, but arrived in the U.S. when he was 10 months old. He worked with the Melrose Police Department as part of its first ever and only K-9 program. Members of the Melrose Police Department will wear black arm bands this week and the flag flying outside the station will remain at half-mast.Jony had been partnered with Officer Joseph H. Donovan, and together both successfully tracked suspects and searched for narcotics in Melrose, Malden, Stoneham, Reading, Chelsea, Wakefield, Saugus, Somerville and Tewksbury. Jony retired in 2015 after an eye infection developed into an inoperable detached retina and cataract in his right eye, threatening his vision and the eye itself. He remained with Donovan and his family after his retirement. “Jony was a beloved member of the Melrose Police Department and served us well over his eight years of dedicated service,” Chief Micheal Lyle said. “He retired after a stellar career and enjoyed his retirement with Officer Donovan. Jony will always be remembered and will certainly be missed throughout the police department and community.”

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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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