K9 Rocky – Euclid, Ohio

Died 7/26/21 

Euclid police K9 officer dies ‘peacefully and unexpectedly’

The Euclid Police Department is saluting K-9 officer Rocky, who sadly died on Monday, July 26. “It is with deep sadness that we report EPD K-9 Rocky passed away peacefully and unexpectedly yesterday,” the Euclid Police Department posted on Facebook. “K-9 Rocky served the Euclid Police Department and during this last year the U.S. Marshals Task Force.” In just hours, the post has received hundreds of comments and shares, and has been reacted to more than 1,300 times. “RIP sweet pup! Thank you for your service,” said Facebook user Betsy Wandersleben. “He like all K9 animals perform a dangerous and necessary duty,” said David Widrich in the comments section of the post. “It’s that courage and commitment that makes Rocky and other dogs special.”

 

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.