K9 Ronnie – High Point, North Carolina

Died – 5/2/22

K9 Ronnie dies after 3 years with High Point Police Department

The High Point Police Department is mourning the loss of beloved K9 Ronnie. On Monday, officers posted on social media asking everyone to keep his handler and the K9 Unit in their thoughts and prayers. Ronnie passed away while under anesthesia to have a tooth pulled last week. Unfortunately, he did not wake up after. Ronnie had been with the K9 Unit since 2019. During his time in the department, Ronnie has had 32 criminal apprehensions, $61,230 worth of narcotics seized, $70,236 in cases seized and 12 guns recovered.

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.