K9 Major – Brookfield, Connecticut

Died – 3/9/23
Handler – Corporal Joseph Kyek

The Connecticut Police Work Dog Association (CPWDA) is sad to announce the passing of d K9 Major at the age of 8 years old. K9 Major passed away on 3/9/23 and was partnered with Corporal Joseph Kyek with the Brookfield Police Department. Major began his career at the Brookfield Police Department in November of 2017 and faithfully served until his passing. K9 Major was certified in Patrol and Narcotics. Major was deployed over 200 times, assisting with public demonstrations, narcotic investigations, criminal investigations, missing person investigations, and felony and misdemeanor arrests. In January, Major successfully tracked and apprehended a fleeing suspect involved in a shots-fired incident after the suspect engaged police in a pursuit and the stolen vehicle used became disabled. Most Notably, Major has been credited with locating an unconscious suicidal male in the woods, an injured person hiding after a traffic crash, a missing child, and a sixty-pound drug seizure among others. Major also provided assistance and backup during the execution of numerous search and arrest warrants executed by the Brookfield Police, Connecticut Department of Corrections, Federal Bureau of Prisons, State and Federal taskforces, and the Western CT Regional Emergency Services Team. Major was diagnosed with lymphoma on February 9, 2023, Corporal Kyek and K9 Major joined the C.P.W.D.A. on 5/15/17 and became Lifetime Members on 1/1/18. CPWDA sends our thoughts and prayers to Corporal Kyek, his family, and the entire Brookfield Police Department and friends during this difficult time. K9 Major we will miss you and we thank you for your fearless service to the City of Brookfield, Connecticut. K9 Major R.I.P.

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.