K9 Leo – Lenexa Missouri

Handler – Sgt. Ryan Sumner 

Lenexa police mourn death of 4-year-old police K9

The Lenexa Police Department is mourning the death of a police K9. The department said in a Facebook post that 4-year-old K9 Leo, a Belgian Malinois, was still in active service, but in recent weeks was diagnosed with lymphoma. Police said K9 Leo was certified in both narcotics detection and patrol work. In his short time, K9 Leo located 20 criminal suspects who had fled from officers, and had over 50 narcotics finds. He was even featured in a national law enforcement publication after apprehending a shooting suspect. K9 Leo lived with his handler, Sgt. Ryan Sumner and the family’s two pugs. “K9 Leo was the 3rd police K9 that I’ve had the honor of handling in my career. Losing a dog is always hard, and Leo is no exception. Part of a police K9’s service means being put in positions of danger for the protection of officers and the community. I will always be grateful for Leo’s dedication and loyalty. Leo loved going to work every day and I’m comforted that he was able to do that until the end. He will be missed by me, my family, and the entire Lenexa Police family,” Sumner said.

 

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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.
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