K9 Razor – Nottinghamshire, England

Handler – PC Stu Hazard

‘Wonderful’ Nottinghamshire police dog dies

Razor, a lovable and good-natured German shepherd, joined Nottinghamshire Police as a puppy on 2011 and was paired with experienced handler PC Stu Hazard. In the seven years that followed, the pair made for a formidable crime-fighting duo – helping to secure hundreds of arrests and locating dozens of missing people. On one freezing winter’s night, PC Hazard and Razor were called to help in the hunt for a missing nine-year-old boy who had gone missing from his home in rural Nottinghamshire. The boy was eventually found huddled under a hedgerow by Razor, who had picked up his scent and led officers to his location. PC Hazard said: “There is absolutely no way on earth we would have found him without Razor, and with the weather the way it was he potentially saved his life that night. “I remember how grateful his parents were at the time and it’s a really proud memory to look back on. “But ultimately it was just another example of the dog making me look good. “It was really never the other way around.” On another occasion Razor tracked down a man wanted in connection with a woman’s death. After a manhunt lasting several days he was found hiding out in a residential area of Nottingham. PC Hazard added: “He really was just a wonderful dog in every way. “He actually had a great temperament and was a really lovable and gentle dog. “But when you switched him into work mode he was did exactly what was required of him – and that really is a special quality in any working dog. “Due to personal circumstances I had to rehome him with a wonderful couple, where he had a fantastic retirement. “In the time we spent together we formed a really special bond. “He loved me and I loved him. “When I learned he had died I was absolutely gutted but it also evoked some fantastic memories and I felt a huge amount of pride in what we had achieved together.” Razor retired from the force in 2018.

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.