K9 Thunder – Toms River, New Jersey


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Died – 3/29/31
Handler – Sgt. James Reilly

Beloved Toms River police K-9 dies of natural causes

A retired township police department K-9 died on Tuesday of natural causes. In announcing the death of K-9 Thunder, the Toms River Township Police Department also offered its condolences to Thunder’s handler, Sgt. James Reilly. Reilly took to Facebook to express his sorrow following the death of Thunder. “My partner, my friend the one who I told everything too. You will be missed, rest easy see you later buddy (SIC),” the post states. Thunder came to the United States from Czechoslovakia in 2003 to train as a K-9 officer with the Toms River Police Department. He was trained in narcotics searches and patrol. Thunder performed a number of different tasks during his tenure with the Toms River Police Department, from searching for suspects and missing persons to protecting police officers during large disturbances. Some of the jobs Thunder performed, police said, led to large seizures of drugs and multiple arrests for drug distribution. But above it all, Thunder loved to be the center of attention. “He was a crowd favorite because of his big size and big heart,” Officer Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River Police Department, said in a statement. “Whether performing in front of elementary school children, senior citizens or at the Ocean County fair every summer, Thunder loved the spotlight.” Thunder retired in December 2013. During his retirement, Thunder was able to spend more time with Reilly and his family. “K-9 Thunder will be missed by many,” Stocco said.

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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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