K9 Senda – Louisiana State Police

Died 4/6/22
Handler – Sergeant Andy Stephenson

LSP Mourning Loss of Long-Serving K9

The Louisiana State Police is remembering a K9 who died on Wednesday, April 6. LSP K9 Senda “was assigned to SGT Andy Stephenson as a Drug Detection Dog for Troop F, and was his partner for 8 years before retiring with a phenomenal record, according to the Louisiana State Police. Senda worked with the Louisiana State Police between January 2010 and January 2018. Retirement was evidently good to K9 Senda. The last four years of her life were spent as a house dog. LSP would like everyone to know that “she was spoiled and loved well.”

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.