K9 Jax – Calvert, Maryland

With great sadness, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) announces the passing of retired K9 Jax. K9 Jax served the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office from Fall 2013 until 2019. K9 Jax was a loyal protector and trusted partner to F/Sgt. N. Funchion during his time with the Sheriff’s Office. K9 Jax was donated to CCSO in 2013 by K9 unit trainer Kent Gregory. In 2013, K9 Jax attended and completed the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Patrol School and was certified in Patrol/Narcotics Detection. K9 Jax was assigned to the Patrol Division and switched to the Special Operations Team with F/Sgt. Funchion to serve as the Agency’s first SWAT Dog.In 2019, K9 Jax retired after six years of service and lived out the rest of his life with the Funchion family. Jax loved hanging with his family of humans and other animals on the farm. K9 Jax will be greatly missed by the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and the Funchion family. Thank you for your dedicated service, K9 Jax. End of Watch: September 14, 2022.

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.