K9 Reefer – Chelan County, Washington

Died 3/9/16
Handler – Deputy Carlos Rodriguez

Unfortunate End For Chelan County Drug Dog

The Chelan County Sheriff’s Department has reported one of its drug dogs died earlier this week. “Reefer”, a 10-year-old black Labrador, was well known to area school children as an ambassador of goodwill. The dog was killed after running into the road and getting hit by a car. The canine officer was handled by Deputy Carlos Rodriguez and had served Chelan Reefer’s first positive find for Chelan County was in 2008 and he had hundreds more over his years of service with the Sheriff’s Office. Canine Reefer was well known throughout all the schools in Chelan County as well as the groups of children who he performed demonstrations for. Reefer will be greatly missed”.

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.