K9 Sal – Westchester, New York

Died – 12/24/18
Handler – Officer Dave Sanchez

Westchester Police Mourn Loss Of K9 Narcotics Officer

The Westchester County Police Department said goodbye to a veteran K9 drug-detecting dog over the holiday season. While many were celebrating the holidays, the department announced that retired canine officer Sal has died on Christmas Eve. Sal had been retired from the department since January last year, following a decade on the job. the holiday season. While many were celebrating the holidays, the department announced that retired canine officer Sal has died on Christmas Eve. Sal had been retired from the department since January last year, following a decade on the job. According to police, Sal was a narcotics canine who made many seizures of illegal narcotics with his partner, Westchester County Police Officer Dave Sanchez.“Sal and PO Sanchez were enormously effective in interdicting illegal narcotics being transported on Westchester’s parkways,” the department posted on Facebook as they remembered Sal. “Thank you Sal for all you did to keep Westchester safe. Our condolences to PO Sanchez and the Sanchez family on 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.