K9 Eyan – Newport, Oregon


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Died – 3/27/20
1st Handler – Officer TJ Eriksen
2nd K9 Handler – Officer Keith Garrett

In November 2008, Newport Police Department purchased a two-year old male German Shepherd named K9 Eyan from the Czech Republic . K9 Eyan served his community as their first drug detection dog from 2008 to 2014. While first partnered with Officer TJ Eriksen, K9 Eyan was deployed 231 times, and linked to 147 arrests. In comparison, the average number of arrests made by Newport Police Department officers during the same time period was 106. K9 Eyan directly assisted in the seizure of more than $100,000 of drug money. In September 2011, Officer Keith Garrett became the new canine handler when Officer Eriksen left Newport Police Department to accept a position with another agency. K9 Eyan was called upon to assist numerous agencies in Lincoln, Tillamook, Linn, and Benton Counties. K9 Eyan made numerous presentations to community organizations. The Newport Police Department K9 team partnered with the Lincoln County School District to conduct multiple routine and preventative drug searches of schools. K9 Eyan retired in November 2014.

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.