K9 Mollie – North Adams, Massachusetts

Handler – Albert Zoito

North Adams Police Department mourning loss of retired K9

The North Adams Police Department is mourning the death of their first-ever police dog, Mollie. According to North Adams Police, Mollie was laid to rest due to complications from old age. She had retired from the police department after being instrumental in ” hundreds of investigations over her years of service, with successful results taking drugs off our streets.” Police said no matter if it was 3 o’clock in the afternoon or 3 o’clock in the morning Mollie was eager to do her job. Mollie remained with her K9 Handler Albert Zoito after retirement. Zoito sent 22News photos of Mollie from her years of dedicated service.Not only did Mollie sniff out drugs and help put bad people away, she also showed love to the children of North Adams by visiting schools. “Even to those that have a fear of dogs, Mollie’s gentle demeanor and warm loving eyes would soon let their guard down and at the end would pat her on the head or give her a scratch behind her ear,” police wrote on Facebook. K-9 Officer Molly, as you follow the Thin Blue Line across the Rainbow Bridge, we want you to know that you can keep your head and tail held high knowing that your service made a difference. Knowing that you helped take dangerous drugs off our streets. Knowing that you put a smile on and made every child giggle when they saw you. K-9 Officer Molly, May You Rest In Peace and God Speed.

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.