K9 Keno – State College, Pennsylvania

Died – 3/6/17
Handler – Officer Kris Hopkins

State College police K9 Keno passes away in his home

The last police dog for the State College Police Department passed away Monday. The German Shepard began his career in May 2008 in Happy Valley and retired in September 2013 with his handler Kris Hopkins, according to a release from Hopkins, who retired at the same time. He was a narcotic detection dog up until he retired in September 2013. Keno’s career was highlighted when he helped apprehend Max Illiarnov in March 2010. That ended a two year investigation into many serious crimes committed by Illiarnov and his conspirators. After K9 Keno retired from police work the police department transferred his ownership to Kris Hopkins, who started work in the area as a pet behavior consultant. Keno began helping pets in the State College area that had behavioral problems like fear aggression by being an obedient, neutral dog to help calm client dogs while their owners helped their pets make positive associations with another dog.

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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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