K9 Lapis – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Second Pittsburgh K-9 Officer dies in less than a week
Handler – Officer Clint Thimons

Just a few days after the unexpected passing of an active K-9 officer, the Pittsburgh Police K-9 Unit is mourning the loss of a retired dog. 12-year-old Officer Lapis recently passed away.Lapis was a Narcotics Detection K-9 who worked with the K-9 Unit from May 2013 through November 2020. The Unit says Lapis lived with his handler Officer Houck and his family for the past three years in retirement.Late last week, 4-year-old Officer Hans died unexpectedly.Hans began his service with the unit in November 2021, attending the K9 school, graduating in March 2022. Hans was a Patrol and Explosive Detection K9 with his handler Clint Thimons.“We send our condolences to Officer Thimons and his family,” the Pittsburgh Police K-9 Unit said in a statement. “RIP Hans. Your loyal service to the City of Pittsburgh and its citizens will never be forgotten.”

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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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