K9 Jax – Garfield Heights, Ohio

Died – 8/5/22
Handler – Sergeant Marc Smith

Garfield Heights Police mourn passing of retired K-9 Jax

The Garfield Heights Police Department is saddened to announce the passing of retired K-9 Jax, who crossed over the rainbow bridge on Aug. 5 K-9 Jax attended the six-week-long K-9 academy at Von Der Haus Gill in Wapakoneta in the spring of 2013.He served Garfield Heights as a dual-purpose police K-9 trained in patrol and narcotics until his retirement on March 25, 2020.Garfield Heights Police said K-9 Jax worked his successful career faithfully alongside his partner, retired Sgt. Marc Smith.K-9 Jax was responsible for numerous arrests from his deployments for tracking, narcotics detection, and evidence recovery, according to GHPD.GHPD said Sgt. Smith and K-9 Jax were active in the community, educating others through public relations events.According to GHPD, K-9 Jax’s presence caused even the most hardened criminal to comply thanks to his stature and intensity.“K-9 Jax will be missed by all who knew him,” GHPD stated. “Rest in Peace K-9 Jax, you served your community 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.