K9 Nala – Hopkins, Kentucky

Handler – Deputy Brad Ross

K-9 Deputy Nala of the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office passes

The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is sharing some sad news about one of its K9s. According to an announcement Thursday from HCSO, K9 Nala has passed away.Nala was a 10-year-old German Shepherd, and passed away from a sudden medical emergency. She had been serving the community of Hopkins County for the last 7 years.HCSO says that K9 Nala was trained in narcotics detection, and had most recently been serving with her partner Deputy Brad Ross on the Madisonville/ Hopkins County Narcotics Task Force since March of 2021.There will be a funeral procession for K9 Nala at 12:45 p.m. on Friday from the sheriff’s office to the burial site at the Pat Collins FOP Lodge.

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.