K9 Senta – Byron, Georgia

Handler – Corporal Lee Smith

Byron police mourn loss of K-9 Senta

Police in a Central Georgia town are mourning the passing of one of their own and one of their best friends. The Byron Police Department announced Tuesday K-9 Senta has died. She had been with the department for ten years. Police described Senta as “a joy to children and feared by drug dealers.” In a statement posted to the department’s Facebook page, K-9 Senta’s handler is quoted as stating: “K-9 Senta was my partner and a member of my family. I cannot express the great loss we are feeling. She always made me proud, especially when she alerted with her head cocked. We knew then it was gonna be a good day. She served the Department and Community proudly as a narcotics canine and an ambassador at public demonstrations and events. She touched many lives. The outpouring of sympathy messages the Department and myself are receiving is a testament to how much she was loved and respected. Thank you all. Not a day will go by that I won’t think of my partner and miss her. I Love You, Senta. ” Police said Senta passed away after a brief illness.

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.