K9 Ruger – Cheyenne, Wyoming

Cheyenne Police Mourn Retired Police Dog

We are heartbroken to announce the passing of retired K9 Ruger. After seven years of service to the City of Cheyenne, he retired from the CPD in 2019 and then enjoyed life as a “happy couch potato” after being adopted into his handler’s family. During his career, K9 Ruger assisted our patrol division with sniff searches for narcotics, evidence, suspects, and missing persons. He contributed to 124 arrests, 545 narcotics searches, and apprehended 35 suspects. Thank you for keeping our officers and community safe, Ruger. Our sympathy extends to K9 Ruger’s partner, Officer Wellman and his family.

Here is a complete list of K9 Ruger’s contributions:
• 70 demonstrations
• 545 narcotics searches
• 67 school searches
• 72 assists to outside agencies
• 85 building searches
• 97 tracks and open area searches
• 35 apprehensions
• 154 grams of marijuana seized
• 1 + pounds of meth seized
• 54 grams cocaine seized
• 80.5 grams of heroin seized
• $14,109 in cash seized
• 124 arrests
• 136 citations

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.