K9 Luther – Mount Vernon, Washington

Died – April, 2016
Handler – Officer Zach Wright

Retired Mount Vernon police dog Luther dies

Mount Vernon Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its beloved officers. Luther, a police dog who retired from service with the department in January 2015, died this week, Mount Vernon Police Chief Jerry Dodd said in a news release. “(Luther) was loved and respected by department staff and the community,” Dodd said in the release. “(He) was well known across the region for his relentless tracking skills.” Luther was born in January 2005, and completed basic training in October of that year, Dodd said.During his nearly nine years in service, Luther was deployed 1,136 times, was responsible for 301 arrests, made 200 evidence finds and participated in 160 agency assists with other law enforcement agencies in Skagit, Island and Whatcom counties. “With broken hearts, we give special thanks to Luther for his courageous spirit and noble and dedicated service,” Dodd said. “He truly was a community hero.” For the entire time he was in service, Luther was partnered with Officer Zach Wright, and upon retirement continued to live with the Wright family.

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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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