K9 Liza – Georgetown, South Carolina

On Wednesday morning, Georgetown Police Department announced the death of K-9 Liza, who they said just a day before would be retiring from the force with a terminal medical condition. “It is with heavy heart that the Georgetown Police Department’s K9 Liza lost her battle with her medical condition this morning. Our hearts our with Cpl Clay Johnson and his family during this difficult time. K9 Liza is deeply loved and will be missed,” the department said. After six years of serving the Georgetown Police Department, K-9 Liza’s retirement was announced Tuesday. The announcement came after the German Shepherd was diagnosed with a terminal medical condition. She was with the department since 2015. Corporal Clayton Johnson, Liza’s partner for two and a half years, said he took her to the veterinarian when she wasn’t acting like her normal self. Several tests revealed a terminal medical condition. Liza is a drug detection dog and a K-9 tracking dog and has assisted other agencies in addition to GPD. The department said she has worked many cases in her career, from locating drugs to tracking suspects and locating valuable evidence.

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.