K9 Santos – Wickenburg, Arizona

Died – 7/28/20
Handler – Officer Gabe Fuentes

Wickenburg Police Department recently announced the passing of former K9 officer Santos. Santos has been a member of the Wickenburg Police Department since December 2012. He died after a brief illness. Santos had recently retired and was living with his human police partner Officer Gabe Fuentes. He was only 9 years old. Sgt. Brandon Dalley was Santos’ first human police partner and fondly remembers him as a gentle giant. Santos was a dual-purpose K9 trained for patrol duties and handler protection as well as narcotics detection. “With hundreds of patrol shifts and drug sniffs in his career, Santos was a valuable member of the Wickenburg Police Department. We are forever grateful for his service to the Wickenburg community,” said Lt. Amy Sloane.

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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.
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