K9 Leo – Pune, India

Died – 11/26/24

Pune police mourn the loss of narcotics specialist canine Leo

Pune City Police on Tuesday lost their narcotics specialist canine, Leo, who had played a key role in several major drugs busts in Pune and also in multi-agency drills over a career spanning eight years. His last rites were performed after holding a police guard of honor. Leo, a Labrador retriever, was born on July 20 in 2016 and was inducted in the service of Pune police in September 2016 as a trainee member of the canine squad. After receiving specialized training in narcotics detection, Leo had joined active service. Leo was instrumental in several key investigations into the cases under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. In December 2019, Leo played a key role in the seizure of large quantities of Mephedrone and marijuana from a Nigerian national. In August 2022, he was instrumental in a case at Loni Kalbhor police station in which 70 kilograms of marijuana was seized.Leo regularly participated in multi-agency training exercises including those with the Indian Army. He was also part of regular checks and sweeps conducted at the Yerawada Central Prison and those at the railway stations and bus stands. He had also attended many demos in schools and educational institutes. Leo passed away on Tuesday following an ailment affecting his esophagus.Senior officers of the crime branch and his handlers paid him tributes accompanied by a full police guard of honor. Last rites were performed on Leo at the PMC’s electric crematorium for pets and animals.

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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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