K9 Boomer – Salt Lake County, Utah

Handler – Deputy M. Hintze 

SLCo Sheriff’s Office mourns loss of beloved K-9

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday that they are mourning the loss of their beloved K-9, Boomer. Boomer was undergoing treatment for intestinal problems when he passed away, the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release Tuesday afternoon. He became a member of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office in January 2018 when he was assigned to his partner, Deputy M. Hintze. Boomer was a busy dog, as his job required him to constantly be on the move searching buildings, persons, and vehicles. Once completing his state narcotics certification in June 2018, Boomer engaged in hours of specialized training both on and off duty. The Sheriff’s Office said Boomer was “an essential part of the team, working diligently to prevent the introduction of illicit narcotics in the jail facilities.” “As an Office, our hearts are heavy with the loss of this K-9,” Sheriff Rosie Rivera said. “Boomer was more than a partner to Deputy Hintze; he was a member of his family. We are all keeping Deputy Hintze and his family in our thoughts and prayers,” Sheriff Rivera added.

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.