K9 Titan – Alexandria, Virginia

Died – 10/6/16

Alexandria Police Remember Retired K9 Titan

The Alexandria Police Department is mourning the loss of retired K9 “Titan.” The dog, who served eight years on the police force, was remembered on the department’s Facebook page Tuesday: The Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria Police Foundation says good-bye to retired APD K9 Titan, 14, who went over the rainbow bridge on October 6. Titan worked as a member of APD from November 2004 through February 2012. Throughout his career K-9 Titan was the recipient of several awards for his work as a Patrol and Narcotic Detector canine. In 2007 he received a Bronze Valor Award for his assistance in apprehending a suspect involved in a shooting. Titan was well loved and will be missed by his family, the Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria Police Foundation.

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.