K9 Kaya – Streetsboro, Ohio

Died – 1/7/25
Handler – Officer Hall

Streetsboro police dog struck, killed by vehicle

A K9 with the Streetsboro Police Department was killed Tuesday when he was struck by a passing vehicle, police say. A news release from the department says the dog, Kaya, was allowed out of the patrol car to stretch his legs along Ohio 303 at about 5:35 p.m. Kaya got too close to the highway and was hit. An officer took Kaya to the nearest veterinarian. He then was taken to Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Highland Heights, but he died of his injuries, police say. Kaya was three days away from his ninth birthday. Police say the driver returned to the scene and spoke with officers. The incident remains under investigation but police say initial findings show it was “a heartbreaking and horrific accident.”

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.