K9 Jarca – Lafayette, Indiana

Died 12/20/16
Handler – Officer Ryan French

Lafayette police mourn death of longtime K9 officer

Lafayette police are mourning the death of a longtime K9 officer. Retired police K-9 Jarca passed away on Tuesday at the age of 13. She served with Officer Ryan French as a member of the LPD from September 2006 until her retirement in 2014. Jarca had a productive career in both a drug and suspect apprehension. She assisted in 277 narcotic arrests; 145 criminal arrests related to narcotic sales; and 243 criminal arrests not involving narcotics, including 704 deployments with 11 apprehensions. Officer French and K-9 Jarca were recognized for their dedication and service by the City Council in April 2014. She retired from police service in April 2014 and spent her peaceful retirement with the French family. LPD says Jarca was a valued member of their department and although she will be missed, she will not be forgotten.

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.