K9 Rocky – Austin, Texas

Died – 8/5/15
Handlers – Sgt. Mutchler & Officer Ramos

Retired Austin police K9 Rocky loses battle with cancer

Austin Police Department K9 Rocky passed away on Wednesday, August 5, 2015, after a battle with cancer. Rocky was a 12 year-old black Labrador mix who served the citizens of Austin in the Criminal Interdiction Unit from 2012 to 2014. Rocky was responsible for the following seizures: over $75,000 in drug currency, one pound of marijuana, 164 grams of Crack cocaine and four weapons. Rocky served nine years as a Military Working Dog prior to becoming and Austin Police K9. Please keep his previous handlers, Sgt. Mutchler and Officer Ramos in your thoughts and prayers.

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.