K9 Tyke – Wiltshire, England

Died 11/7/22
Handler – PC Cindy Hargreave

Heartbreak as retired Wiltshire Police dog Tyke dies after six years service

One of Wiltshire Police’s most popular police dogs sadly died yesterday (November 7). Tyke, affectionately known as ‘Big T’ had served with the force for six years, and died aged eleven.Gaining his licence back in 2013, the much loved dog, worked alongside his handler PC Cindy Hargreave for six years before retiring in 2019. Since then, he has lived with PC Hargreave at home enjoying a slower pace of life.Supported with vet bills by WAGs Retired Police Dog Charity, Tyke has required medication over the past three years to enable him to live comfortably and happy. In a tribute, Wiltshire Police said that Tyke’s bond with his handler PC Hargreave is one that is unmatched.She once described him as her life saver after he protected her from a man throwing a petrol barrel towards her during an illegal rave in Swindon. “Tyke is my world – I have had dogs since I was one, but I will never ever have a dog like this again,” said PC Hargreave. “Tyke was the best team mate and partner I could ever have wished for.”Dog trainer Ian Partington said: “Tyke served for Wiltshire Police for six years and he was a brilliant police dog – you can put dogs through their training but you never really know how they will perform until they are out and about with their handler, responding to 999 calls or attending public order incidents. PC Hargreave and Tyke were a great team both during his working years, and through his retirement and I know just how devastated she will be.”The force thanked Tyke for his service in a post to social media, which was flooded with hundreds of tributes from the public. Mandy Bradey-Donald wrote: “I had the privilege of meeting Cindy and Tyke at a charity event some years ago and you could just see the special bond between them. RIP PD Tyke and condolences to PC Hargreaves’s and all who knew Tyke.”

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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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