K9 Kenzo – Prima, Arizona

Died – 10/27/23
Handler – Officer Chris Rodriguez

2 robbery suspects arrested after Pima police K-9 killed in stabbing

On October 27th, around 8:00 p.m. in the Rincon District, deputies from PCSD were searching for a suspect connected to an armed robbery. K9 Kenzo was sent into a fenced commercial yard to locate the suspect.After K9 Kenzo became unresponsive and stopped responding to commands deputies entered to search the area and found the dog unresponsive in the yard with stab wounds. The suspect was found and taken into custody. K9 Kenzo was found near the suspect, Kenzo was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.Further investigation of the incident led to the arrest of two suspects. 32-year-old Juan Tachowas arrested for armed robbery, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Slade Bartlett, 35, was arrested for armed robbery, aggravated robbery and killing/harming a work/service animal. Authorities said Kenzo has injuries consistent with a stabbing and a necropsy is scheduled to be performed.“We are saddened by the loss of K9 Kenzo and reminded of the dangers our deputies face along with their k9 partners who serve right beside them,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Office said in a media release. Officer Chris Rodriguez and K9 Kenzo just competed in the Desert Dog competition on October 22 and came in 3rd for handler protection.

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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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