K9 Taz – Phillipsburg, New Jersey

Handler – Officer Matthew Amey

Phillipsburg officers bid farwell to retired K9 officer Taz

The Phillipsburg community said goodbye to retired K9 officer Taz. He served with the Phillipsburg Police Department for nearly 10 years but on Wednesday, K9 Taz took his final ride through downtown. Due to his failing health, Taz was euthanized at a veterinary office in Alpha then given a police escort to Shappell Park where the community and other K9 officers from departments around the area came to pay their respects. Taz retired from the department several years ago and had been living out his retirement with partner Officer Matthew Amey and his family. “He was just an amazing working dog…and in retirement, he was an awesome family dog as well. No words can describe him,” Amey said. Taz was known in the community for being able to get himself in and out of the patrol car. “He did it one last time coming out today…it was probably the best thing that happened today. He used to hit it with his nose and climb right on in. It was great,” Amey said.
The Lehigh Valley Animal Crematory and Schuylkill Haven Casket Company both donated their services.

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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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