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Died – 12/12/22
Handler – Sergeant Martin Feliciano
The Connecticut Police Work Dog Association (CPWDA) is sad to announce the passing of in service K9 Ax at the age of 9 years old on 12/12/22 who was partnered with Sergeant Martin Feliciano with the New Haven Police Department. K9 Ax died in the back of the cruiser of natural causes.During K9 Ax’s career he was responsible for numerous apprehensions of dangerous, violent criminals as well as taking large amount of contraband off the streets. K9 Ax was a two-time winner of the prestigious Daniel Wasson K-9 Memorial Award (2016 & 2017) which is awarded every year to the top K9 in Connecticut for their outstanding service. The 2016 award was for a track conducted on 9/11/16 when officers were dispatched for an unknown weapons complaint. Upon arrival they observed a male standing in the street holding a large silver knife. On scene Officers ordered him to the ground, handcuffed and detained him, moments later a female came out from within the nearby residence with her hands bound together with a Zip tie. It was relayed through interpreters that two men armed with black semi-automatic handguns conducted a home invasion bound the above noted residents with Zip ties, pistol whipped one of them, robbed them and then fled the scene. Witnesses provided information and description of the suspects as they fled and noted an area that they stopped and appeared to hide something. On scene Officers checked the above noted area and located a loaded black semi-automatic handgun and several other items. Officer Feliciano and K9 Ax responded to conduct a track utilizing the suspects discarded evidence as a scent article. K9 Ax led Officer Feliciano to a thick marsh where he gave an indication that the suspects were hiding within the marsh. after giving announcements, both suspects surrendered without incident or harm to any other harm to citizens or Law enforcement. In 2017 the team won the Daniel Wasson K-9 Memorial Award Assisting on a M/V stop after on scene officers exhausted their search for contraband, Officer Feliciano and K9 Ax responded, conducted a search and subsequent indication on a hidden compartment that contained Marijuana, Crack Cocaine, Heroin and a loaded 9 MM Glock handgun, the gun had a round in the chamber and a magazine that held 15 rounds, it was later discovered that this gun was linked to a Homicide. Thanks to the ability of K9 Ax, no Officers were injured on scene and a dangerous weapon was taken off the streets. K9 Ax competed in the Connecticut Dream Ride K9 Challenge in which he took 1st Place overall as well as 3rd Place overall. Officer Feliciano and K9 Ax joined the C.P.W.D.A. on 7/1/15/ and were Lifetime Members until K9 Ax’s passing. Officer Feliciano and his K9 partner Ax served from 2018 to 2022 and was certified in Patrol & Narcotic. CPWDA sends our thoughts and prayers to Officer Feliciano, his family, and the entire New Haven Police Department & friends during this difficult time. K9 Ax, we will miss you and we thank you for your fearless service to the City of New Haven. K9 Ax R.I.P.
