K9 Simba – Vellore, India

Died – 11/5/22
Handler – Constable M. Sasikumar

Sniffer dog Simba succumbs to cancer in Vellore

Sniffer dog Simba, a 10-year-old black Labrador Retriever, succumbed to liver cancer at the police dog squad unit in Vellore on Tuesday. An expert in crime detection and narcotics, Simba, who was an active member in the squad, was born in December 2012 and was brought as a two-month-old pup to the dog squad in the fort town. Subsequently, he underwent a year-long training at the Madras City Police Dog Squad in Chennai before being inducted into service. His handler was constable M. Sasikumar, who was inconsolable on seeing Simba fall unconscious in the training area of the squad around 10.15 a.m. “Simba was an expert in explosives detection and narcotics identification. He helped us crack at least 250 cases during his service years. We really miss him,” S. Rajesh Kannan, SP (Vellore) told The Hindu. Along with other police personnel, Mr. Kannan paid his last respects to Simba at the squad. Simba’s sniffing skills were in full display on December 15, 2021, when he was taken to Jos Alukkas, a gold jewelry retail chain showroom on Katpadi Road in Vellore where 16 kg of gold and diamond jewelry were stolen the previous night. Initial tracking by Simba, the police said, was vital in getting an idea of the suspect and his motives.

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.