K9 Thomas – Salina, Utah

Died – 6/23/16
Handler – Police Chief Eric Pratt

Salina Police Say Goodbye To Their Very First K-9 Officer

Summit County Sheriff’s deputies and officers with the Salina Police Department are mourning the loss of their very first K-9 officer who passed away Thursday afternoon. K-9 Officer Thomas passed away at him home, two years after retiring. Thomas started his career with the Summit County Sheriff’s Department and worked there for approximately eight years doing both narcotics and apprehension work. K-9 Thomas was 13 years old at the time of his passing and enjoyed general good health up until the last few days of his life. He then served with the Salina Police department in narcotics from 2012 to 2014 when he retired. “The Salina City Police Department is grateful for the hard work K-9 Thomas contributed to the communities that he served, and for all the good times and fun everyone had interacting with him,” Salina Police Department said in a police department. “He will always be remembered by the officers who worked with him for his incredibly high prey drive, courage, and hardness. There truly aren’t many working dogs like Thomas was. Thomas was known throughout the state of Utah in the K-9 world for both the challenges he presented his handlers with as well for so many of his awesome traits that made him a highly reliable and fearsome drug/apprehension dog.” Salina Police Chief Eric Pratt was Thomas’ handler. “You will be forever missed,” Pratt said. “Thomas, you were the only dog I have every truly loved, feared, and respected all at the same time! Love your daddy, Eric”

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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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