Executive Board Members

  Officer Eric A. Rocheleau - President

Officer Eric Rocheleau was elected as President in 2007 and is a Police K9 handler for the West Hartford Police Department. Eric holds certifications through Connecticut Police Work Dog Association and also North American Police Work Dog Association. He has been involved in Law Enforcement for approximately 14 years, the last eight with the West Hartford P.D.  His K9 partner is a 5-year-old female named Kora.  K-9 "Kora" is one of only three Patrol/Narcotic K9's in Connecticut and has been working as a PSD for over three years. This K9 team has received awards for exceptional tracks, captures and drug seizures.  Several notable cases include locating a missing 2 year old as well as tracking and capturing two armed robbery suspects in 2003.  In 2002, Officer Rocheleau received the CT Coalition of Police and Correction Officers Law Enforcement Oscar. Officer Rocheleau and K-9 "Kora" were the recipients of the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award for 2005. Eric is married and has two sons and a daughter. Officer Rocheleau has been a member of the C.P.W.D.A. since 2003 and served as Vice-President in 2006.

Officer Daniel T. Gagnon - Vice-President

Officer Dan Gagnon has been a member of the Ledyard Police since 1995. He was first partnered with K9 "Jack" in 1997 who was trained by Sgt. William Nott Jr. Officer Gagnon was partnered with "Jack" until he retired in 2006. Officer Gagnon's new partner, K9 "Ringo", is 2 years old and also certified in patrol and narcotics. Officer Daniel Gagnon has been a member of the C.P.W.D.A. since 1999 and also a member of the North American Police Work Dog Association. Dan was elected Vice-President in 2007.

 

 

 

 

  Officer Jo-Anne M. Collamati - Secretary 

Officer Jo-Anne Collamati is a police K9 handler for the Manchester Police Department. Jo-Anne and her K9 "Boomer" hold certifications through the Connecticut and North American Police Work Dog Association for use in patrol tracking and narcotics detection.  They have been an active team since October of 2003, having completed a fourteen week school in January of 2004 through Rhode Island Department of Corrections with Officer Gregory Richards.  Boomer is a four year old male German Shepherd and is Jo-Anne's second K9 partner. Officer Callamati has been a member of the C.P.W.D.A. since 2000 and was elected Secretary of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association in 2006 and has been a police officer for thirteen years.

 

 

 

  Officer James A. Cortina - Treasurer  

Jim Cortina is the current Treasurer for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. and has been appointed as Treasurer since its inception in 1991.  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 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.