K9 Lara – Ore Valley – Arizona

Died 8/31/16
Handler – Officer Marvin

Oro Valley police mourn the passing of K9 officer

The Oro Valley Police Department is reporting the passing of explosive detection K9 Lara, an 8-year-old Belgium Malinois. According to OVPD she was sick and was receiving treatment, Lara passed away on Wednesday morning with her handler by her side. Lara began her service with OVPD in 2011 as an explosive detection canine, and her outstanding work earned her and her handler the title of Lead EOD K-9 Team for the Pima Regional Bomb Squad. The 8-year-old Belgium Malinois and her handler conducted thousands of bomb sweeps for special events, dignitary protection and special law enforcement operations. Of special note, in 2014 Lara conducted an exterior “sniff” on a suspicious vehicle outside the Oro Valley Hospital, she alerted to the presence of explosive material. A search of the vehicle turned up one pound of black powder, pyrodex, and ironite (high explosive material), weapons, and fireworks. The explosive items were removed from the area and the individuals possessing it were arrested. Her last five years of service will not be forgotten by the OVPD and she will be missed greatly.

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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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