K9 Marsh – New Hampshire State Police

Handler – Sergeant Jeffrey Dade 

New Hampshire State Police Say Goodbye to their Beloved K9 Marsh

The New Hampshire State Police Department took to their socials on Friday to share some heavy news.  Explosives Detection #K9 Marsh crossd the rainbow bridge on the due to medical complications. The Instagram post went on to say that Marsh entered on duty with State Police on December 21, 2012 after having served as an explosives detection canine with the United States Marine Corps. It went on to say that while serving with the Marines, Marsh had one combat deployment to Afghanistan. As the Marines were withdrawn from Afghanistan, some of their single purpose explosive detection canines were transferred to US law enforcement. That is when K9 Marsh was assigned to the New Hampshire State Police Bomb Squad. Marsh did a lot of AMAZING things throughout his career. He participated in many of New Hampshire’s and New England’s most critical incidents and events including the Boston Marathon Bombing, Democratic National Committee Debates, NASCAR races and the rampant bomb threats throughout the state in 2016. He could be found regularly helping with security efforts at the Manchester Boston Regional Airport and New Hampshire’s Statehouse.K9 Marsh will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. He is remembered fondly by the New Hampshire State Police Department as a whole and his handler Sergeant Jeffrey Dade. Marsh exemplified the Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis that means, “always faithful”. He was an amazing and loyal companion who was extrememly appreciated and loved.

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.