K9 Hax – Weymouth, Massachusetts

Died – 7/1/16
Handler – Officer Edward Hancock

K9 Hax has died

During Hax’s distinguished career, he located missing people, uncovered evidence and dashed in to help capture dangerous suspects. Weymouth Police announced that 13-year-old Hax, who retired from the force in 2014, died Friday. Hax was euthanized after brief illnesses with his former human partner by his side, the department said. Hax was scheduled to be honored at a service at Angel View Pet Cemetery in Middleboro today. “He was a great dog,” Weymouth Police Officer Edward Hancock said of his former K9 partner. “He’d love you to death but when it’s business he’s all business. He was able to turn it off when he had to track the bad guy and the fight was on.” Hax served his department for 10 years. During that time they he was involved with capturing dangerous suspects. In 2007, Hax played a key role in capturing the man behind one of Weymouth’s most horrific crimes in living memory. He assisted Hancock in arresting Ryan Bois after Hancock spotted a speeding SUV driven by Bois and chased it. After apprehending Bois, Hancock found the body of Bois’ 6-year-old cousin Joanna Mullin in the back seat. Bois was later convicted of murdering Mullin and Hancock and Hax were publicly honored by the town council and then-Gov. Deval Patrick for capturing him.

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.