K9 Gazza – Porirua, New Zealand

Died – 4/21/16
Handler – Constable Josh Robertson

K9’s Legacy that was shot and killed will live on

Tributes for fallen police dog, Gazza, have flooded in on social media. Hundreds have expressed shock at the incident and their sympathies for the 4-year-old German Shepard’s family. Gazza was fatally shot today during an armed standoff in Porirua. His handler was constable Josh Robertson with whom he lived. The police dog was a star of TVNZ show Dog Squad which follows working dogs and their handlers. Shortly after the news was made public, New Zealand Police confirmed the dog was Gazza and wrote: “Our thoughts are with his handler and his family.” Dog Training Centre national coordinator Inspector Todd Southall said Gazza and Mr Robertson have been a highly effective team in Wellington tracking, searching and catching offenders. “They are also popular visitors to schools, sports grounds and open days.” Gazza and Josh would feature in the upcoming series of Dog Squad, he said. Gazza is the 24th New Zealand Police dog to have been killed on duty and the seventh police dog to have been fatally shot since 1972. “Gazza is a member of the police breeding program and therefore his legacy will live on. “The New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre will be hosting a memorial for Gazza in the near future,” Mr Southall said. The last death was in 2010 when police dog Gage took a bullet for his handler, Senior Constable Bruce Lamb, during a call-out in Christchurch. Gage was posthumously awarded the PDSA Gold Medal – the animal equivalent of the George Cross, or the New Zealand Cross for outstanding bravery and exceptional dedication. Dog Squad NZ said on Facebook: “Awful news today, Wellington Police dog Gazza was shot and killed at a Porirua address this morning. Our thoughts are with his handler Josh and the Delta section’s around the country at this very sad time. RIP Gazza, you were a top dog, and a pleasure to work with!”

Tags

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.
| Old Memorials | Site Map
Copyright © 1973 - 2024 Louise Krause Memorials to Fallen K-9's Hosted By PC-GEEK Site Maintained BY Jim Cortina