K9 Jumma – East Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Died – 2/13/19
Handler – Sgt. Jesse Hale

East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office mourns loss of K9 deputy Jumma

Beloved East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office canine Jumma’s end of watch came this week, after 11 years of service to the community and millions of dollars in drug busts credited to her precise nose. Jumma died Wednesday during emergency surgery to remove a tumor on her spleen, said Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hicks. The 13-year-old Belgian Malinois worked with handler Sgt. Jesse Hale in narcotics detection and patrols. In a news release, Hicks said Jumma and Hale were responsible for “seizing millions of dollars’ worth of dangerous drugs and drug money, while arresting some of the most violent and dangerous people imaginable.” Jumma helped seize 16 pounds of heroin stashed in fire extinguishers on a bus in 2014 and $1.8 million of cocaine from the luggage compartment of a bus in 2015.

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.