K9 Mako – Exeter Township, Pennsylvania

Died – 10/5/17
Handler – Officer Darrin Gartner

Retired Exeter K9 loses ‘courageous fight’ with illness

A beloved K9 officer has lost his battle with the illness that recently brought his distinguished career to a close. Exeter Township police K9 Mako died Sunday in the arms of his handler, Ofc. Darrin Gartner, according to the department’s Facebook page. Mako retired from the force in September, after serving and protecting his community for nearly a decade as a narcotics and patrol K9. “Mako’s accomplishments are many, his contributions to the ETPD are countless, and his service to the residents of Exeter Township will forever be valued,” the department said on Facebook. ETPD officers paid tribute to Mako’s dedication and service with one last ride in a police car and a final salute Sunday afternoon. Mako is Exeter’s second retired K9 to die in the last 15 months. K9 Bosco lost his battle with cancer in August 2016. Both dogs were credited with helping to take millions of dollars worth of drugs off the streets. Berks County District Attorney John Adams has given Exeter Township more than $10,000 to help offset its cost of replacing the retired K9s.

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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.
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