K9 Rex – Virginia Beach, Virginia

Died – 5/8/19
Handler – Detective D. Kagel

Virginia Beach Police Department mourns loss of accomplished K9

The Virginia Beach Police Department is mourning the loss of an accomplished interdiction K9. Rex passed died on Wednesday, May 8. Rex and his partner and handler, Detective D. Kagel, started out in Special Investigations in October 2008. During their career, they helped seize hundreds of pounds of marijuana, several kilos of cocaine and heroin as well as over $2.6 million. ex received a United States Attorney award for his hard work in high profile investigations. He will be memorialized during the Department annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service Friday, May 17 at 2 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at 35th Street and Boardwalk.

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.