K9 Sudha – Mangaluru, India

Died – 7/24/21

Handler – Kushalappa

City police bid adieu to detective dog

The Mangaluru City police on Saturday bid farewell to its 10-year-old crime detective dog Sudha. Police Commissioner N. Shashi Kumar and other officials gave it a guard of honour before burying the dog on the City Armed Police grounds. Sudha, a Doberman Pinscher, was with the city police since its birth on March 15, 2011. Handler Sandeep K., from the District Armed Reserve, had trained and reared it for a long time. But for the last six months, handler Kushalappa was taking care of Sudha and two other dogs, which are part of the city police’s dog squad. Sudha has helped the police trace the accused in many criminal cases, including a recent murder case in Ullal. Six months ago, it underwent operation for the removal of a cancerous growth in its body. Since the last seven days the health of Sudha began to deteriorate and it died at 10.15 a.m. on Saturday. Sudha received an emotional farewell from her handlers and other policemen.  “I was very much attached to Sudha. It was like a father and child relationship. Sudha rigorously followed my instructions,” said Mr. Sandeep. It’s this attachment that made Mr. Sandeep name his motorcycle after the dog. Mr. Kumar and other policemen placed flowers on its body. After giving a guard of honor, it was buried at a corner of the CAR parade grounds. A tulasi sapling was planted over the burial spot. This is the first detective dog that the city police have lost. There are two other dogs in the squad and two more are set to join after completion of their training, said Mr. Kumar. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Hariram Shankar, DCP (City Armed Reserve) Channaveerappa Hadapad, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (CAR) Murigeppa Appasahed Upase were present.

 

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.