K9 Sara – Licking, Missouri


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Died – 11/24/16
Handler – Corporal Patrick Burton

Licking Police Department K9 struck and killed by vehicle on Thanksgiving

The Licking Police Department’s K-9, Sara, was stuck by a vehicle and died Thursday night. LPD Chief Scott Lindsey said Sara escaped her enclosure at her handler’s residence on Highway 32 west of the city limit, and was then hit by a vehicle on the highway and died. Lindsey said an internal review of the incident is ongoing. “But at this time there is no indication the event was anything other than an unfortunate accident,” he said. Sara (badge No. 709) had been with the LPD since September 2013, and was the last remaining active K-9 unit in Texas County (several local departments formerly funded dogs, including the Texas County Sheriff’s Department and Houston Police Department). Sara and her handler were certified members of North American Police Working Dog Association. “I want to thank our community for the support citizens have shown for the K-9 program over the last three years,” Lindsey said. “Sara was an asset to this department and our community, and she will be missed by our officers.” Lindsey said that he and city officials would together evaluate the future of the LPD’s K-9 program.

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.