K9 Wrangler – Connecticut State Police

Handler – Trooper First Class Kevin Reed
“I’m sad to write that last night Wrangler passed away suddenly from liver disease. “In his short 6 years, Wrangler did more than most humans.” That’s no exaggeration.  He protected thousands of people every day as a Connecticut State Police Explosives Detection K9,” Eastman continued. “To me, Wrangler was my super early morning buddy,” Eastman explained. “He had the most perfectly squishable neck rolls. He rarely caught the ball, but never stopped trying. He was one of the few Labs I know who wasn’t fickle with his love. And I know that my life would look very different today if he hadn’t been a part of it.” In December of 2017, Wrangler graduated from the K-9 detection program and started his life alongside his police partner, Trooper First Class Kevin Reed, who patrolled with him as part of the Mass Transit Unit, keeping trains and train stations safe from New Haven, Connecticut, to New York City. “I’m so grateful to Kevin and his family for giving Wrangler the most incredible life, and for loving him so much,” Eastman wrote. The Connecticut State Police were happy to have Wrangler join the team to keep mass transit areas safe.

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.