K9 Rocco – Crystal, Minnesota

Died – 10/22/21 

Rocco, Crystal Police Department’s First K-9, Passes Away

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our first K9, Rocco. The City of Crystal Police Department has had a K9 program since 2012. Our first handler was Officer (now Sgt.) Geoff Kusick and his partner Rocco. Rocco was born in Slovakia and we obtained him from the St. Paul Police Department when he was 15 months old. He was a full blooded German Shepherd dog. Officer Kusick and K9 Rocco had the pleasure of training at the St. Paul PD K9 Training Unit for 12 weeks and graduated on May 23rd, 2012. He successfully worked for the Crystal Police Department for 6 years and during that time received many awards and accolades for his apprehensions, community engagement work, and his overall phenomenal disposition. We were proud to have Rocco on our force and he retired honorably in December 2018 and passed away this past Friday, October 22, 2021. Godspeed our 4 legged hero! May you rest in peace.

 

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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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