K9 Gunner – New York

Died – 2/8/25
Handler – Officer Michael Finamore

NYPD police dog Gunner has died

An NYPD police dog who “won hearts around the world” and helped secure the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris has died, NYPD officials said Sunday.Gunner, a 9-year-old German shepherd who worked with NYPD’s Counterterrorism Bureau, ended his watch on Saturday, according to NYPD deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner,“K9 Gunner won hearts around the world after he helped secure the Olympic Games in Paris,” Weiner said Sunday. “He was an extraordinary dog and he will be missed.”Gunner was named in honor of Police Officer William T. Gunn, who was shot while investigating a homicide in Brooklyn in January 1989. At the time, Gunn had served with the NYPD for a decade, according to NYPD officials.Gunn had recently been assigned to the NYPD’s 67th Precinct Detective Squad just before the shooting.After the shooting, Gunn remained in a coma for nearly four years, fighting for his life. He ultimately passed away on Nov. 27, 1992, at the age of 32.Gunner, whose remarkable career was chronicled on an Instagram page devoted to the impressive pooch, patrolled numerous US Open events at Flushing Meadows and ran in marathons alongside his handler, NYPD Officer Michael Finamore.“We’re grateful for K9 Gunner’s dedicated years of service,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a post on X. “His extraordinary skills played a vital role in keeping NYC safe. He will be greatly missed.”

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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.
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