K9 Samantha – Alamosa, Colorado

Died 8/26/23
Handler – Sergeant Tate Kindschuh

K-9 Samantha, trusted partner and valued member of APD, laid to rest

More than 40 law enforcement officers and other supporters saluted Samantha’s appropriately flag-draped body as she was carried to her handler’s vehicle from a local veterinary clinic to be transported for cremation in Monte Vista. A procession of more than 20 law enforcement vehicles accompanied the honored K9 officer there.Samantha was a trusted partner and beloved friend of Sergeant Tate Kindschuh, as an APD ambassador to local schools and highly valued member of the Alamosa Police Department for eight years.“K9 Samantha served the community with the Alamosa Police Department and her partner, Sergeant Tate Kindschuh, since 2014,” APD Chief Ken Anderson said in a statement. “She served her role in narcotics detection, including numerous operations as well as community and school events, with courage and valor. Due to an unforeseen illness, her retirement was short, but beautiful as she spent time with her partner and best friend Tate Kindschuh. She will be greatly missed.”“There aren’t enough good things I can say about the last 8 years I had with Sammy,” Sergeant Kindschuh told the Valley Courier. “I remember bringing her home and thinking probably what every K-9 handler thinks. What did I get myself into?? She was so high drive and active. But the more time we spent together, the closer we got. “She was so loveable to everyone she encountered. I took her to visit children at schools and she would let the kids pet her and crawl all over her. “She was also an amazing narcotics detection K-9. She made her presence known on her very first day on duty, as she assisted in a narcotics operation where we recovered a large quantity of heroin. Due to that case, we were able to seize a large quantity of money and a vehicle. “She retired in December of 2022. It breaks my heart that she didn’t get to enjoy a long retirement, but she had a very fulfilling life and she was truly loved by everyone that was in her life.”Officers and deputies from APD, Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office, Alamosa County EMS, Conejos County Sheriff’s Office, Monte Vista Police Department, Center Police Department, Blanca Police Department and others were in attendance as well as K9 Goose (APD), K9 Blitz (ASO) and K9s Argo and Tequila (CPD) as Samantha was laid to rest on Saturday, August 26, 2023.

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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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