K9 Reign – Chehalis, Washington


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Died – 6/27/17
Handler – Officer Wayne Ayres

Chehalis police K9 Reign dies during training

The Chehalis Police Department is mourning K9 Reign, who died unexpectedly Tuesday night during routine training. He died due to an “unexpected medical event,” the department reports. Reign, a 5-year-old Belgain Malinois, joined the Chehalis Police Department in 2013 and was paired with Officer Wayne Ayres. The department described the duo as a “very effective team,” and they were responsible for several successful evidence searches, for discovering a large amount of narcotics, and for aprehending multiple suspects. The K9 died almost immediately, despite first aid attempts. He will be taken to Washington State University so that a cause of death can be determined, according to the Chehalis Police Department. “Reign was an important member of our law enforcement family and will be dearly missed,” the Chehalis Police Department wrote on Facebook. “Our hearts go out to Officer Ayers’ family today as well, for their loss.”

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.