K9 Gunner – Butler, Pennsylvania


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Died – 12/27/18
Handler – Lieutenant Grooms

Butler City Police K-9 Dies

The Butler City Police Department says their K-9 officer has died. Police Chief Bob O’Neill says K-9 Gunner seemed to be feeling ill on Thursday evening so his handler, Lieutenant Grooms, took Gunner to the veterinarian. The vet found that Gunner had many irreparable internal issues. O’Neill says Gunner was laid to rest at the hospital. According to O’Neill, Gunner had been with the police department for several years and helped officers take a wanted suspect into custody without incident just a few days before he died. The police department is also accepting donations to their K-9 fund to help the city acquire a new K-9 officer. Donations can be sent care of the Butler City Police Canine fund.

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.