K9 Jager – Indio, California

Died 4/1/20
Handler – Officer Larry Hammers

Retired Indio Police K9 ‘Jager’ dies peacefully in San Diego County

The Indio Police Department announced the death of retired K9 “Jager” on Monday. K9 Jager joined the Indio Police Department in March 2008. The department said he was skilled in narcotics detection, tracking, and apprehension. “He was a friendly favorite during our K9 demos and enjoyed visiting with all of his shift Officers and Dispatchers,” reads a post by the Indio Police Department. K9 Jager retired in May 2012 with his handler, Officer Larry Hammers. For Officer Hammers, Jager was more than just a partner. “My four years in the K9 unit were phenomenal, this is a dog that’s just amazing, you got to learn to trust your dog and he just he took care of me for the last four years,” Hammers said in an interview during their retirement party. K9 Jager passed peacefully on April 1, 2020. “He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with Larry and the rest of Jager’s family,” writes the Indio Police Department.

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.