K9 Champ – Maine State Police

K9 Champ – Maine State Police
Handler – Sgt. Jeremy Forbes

Retired Maine State Police K9 crosses rainbow bridge

The Maine State Police announced the sad news of one of its retired K9s crossing the rainbow bridge. Champ was a rescue dog that was donated by the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in 2010. He went on to work for the Maine State Police for 10 years with his partner and eventual owner retired Maine State Police Sgt. Jeremy Forbes. Champ was trained to track suspects and search for drugs. Police say at the time of his retirement, he was thought to be one of the oldest dogs actively working. The award-winning K9 was believed to be a mix of German Shephard, Pit Bull, and Boxer. In 2017 Champ and Forbes were awarded the James Griffith Memorial Canine Team of the Year award. According to Maine State Police, he was a tireless tracker. Maine State Police – “Thank you for your service, Champ. Rest in Peace.”

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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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