K9 Thor – Salem, Massachusetts

Died 1/16/17
Handler – Officer John Bedard

Salem department mourns death of police dog Thor

Salem police are mourning the unexpected death of one of the department’s K-9 dogs, Thor. Thor, one of three dogs purchased for the department through a community fundraising campaign five years ago, was found unresponsive in his kennel by his handler, Patrolman John Bedard, on Monday morning, Salem Police Capt. Conrad Prosniewski said. A necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of Thor’s death. Bedard, said Prosniewski, is crushed by the death of his partner, who was trained in multiple police dog tasks including drug detection, tracking and bomb sniffing. Thor was with Bedard at the scene of the Boston Marathon bombings, Prosniewski said, where he was used in the investigation. The entire department was saddened by the news, said the captain. Flags outside the station on Margin Street were lowered to half-staff in tribute to Thor. Chief Mary Butler visited with Bedard and his family on Monday.

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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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