K9 Maximus – Gloucester Township, New Jersey

Retired Gloucester Township Police K-9 Maximus Dies

Retired K-9 officer Maximus has died after retiring from the Gloucester Township Police Department in 2014 due to his health, the department said.K-9 “Max” began his work with the GTPD in January 2010 before retiring in January 2014 due to medical issues. He died earlier in November, the township police said.Max served alongside his handler Cpl. Mark Pickard before being diagnosed with a medical condition that could potentially jeopardize the safety of himself, the officers or citizens that he protects if he were to remain in service, police said. Police didn’t specify what that condition was. The police department said Max spent his retired life “playing fetch and relaxing.”

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.