K9 Pajko – Cedar City, Utah

Died 8/12/15
Handler – Officer Jason Thomas

Police mourn unexpected passing of K9 ‘Pajko’

The Cedar City Police Department announced Wednesday that Pajko, a K9 officer with the force, had died unexpectedly at the age of 5. A press release from The Friends of Iron County Police K9 states the death has “come as a great shock to all involved”, and the dog’s passing comes several hours before a couple who had donated to pay for the dog’s medical bills were to be formally honored at a city council meeting. The dog died overnight on August 12, a little more than a month after he underwent emergency surgery for a bloat. The release states the department and particularly Pajko’s handler, Officer Jason Thomas, were exceptionally grateful for the prayers in support of Pajko during and after that surgery. Cedar City PD states on their Facebook page that Pajko is responsible for apprehending many criminals and was credited with finding “tens of thousands of dollars worth of drugs.” The release states: “We ask that you remember Officer Jason Thomas & Pajko in your prayers.

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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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