K9 Rudy – Peel, Canada

Peel cops mourn death of K9 service dog veteran Rudy

Peel Regional Police are paying tribute to one of their own, four-legged members – a police dog named Rudy who helped with takedowns and investigations for almost a decade.“It is with great sadness that the PRPK9 Unit announces the passing of retired Police Service Dog Rudy at the age of 12,” Peel Regional Police said Wednesday in a post on social media.Peel police K9 Units assist police with searches and arrests, like in 2021 when Rudy and his K9 handler helped recover a handgun following a hit-and-run crash in 2021.Police said Rudy and another K9 named Dutch teamed up to find the suspect a replica Glock handgun that had been hidden.“Rudy proudly protected and served our communities for nine years, and will be deeply missed by his handler and the K9 Unit. Thank you for your service, Rudy.”

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.