K9 Jax – Southwick, Massachusetts

Died 8/21/18
Handler – Detective Sergeant Tom Krutka

Retired Southwick police dog, K9 Jax, has passed away

The Southwick Police Department has announced that retired police dog, K9 Jax, passed away Tuesday following a brief illness. Jax retired in May of 2017 after serving with the Southwick Police Department for 10 years. After retirement, Jax continued to live out his life with his K9 handler, Detective Sergeant Tom Krutka. 22News visited Jax at his home as he headed into retirement.According to Southwick police, Jax was instrumental in finding lost children, wanted suspects, and sniffing out large amounts of drugs. “Not only did he serve the Town of Southwick but he also was used by many Police Department in Western Mass, where he referred to as “The Best of the Best,” Southwick Police Chief Kevin Bishop said. Southwick police released the following statement from Jax’s dad and former handler, Sgt. Krutka: “I have to send a huge shout out to everybody at Southwick VCA Animal Hospital…. They have been so awesome, not only with Jax, but everything I went through with Tek (Tom’s Family dog) Dr. Dana Klaiber…. She is an inspiration to her field. People talk about police officers going above and beyond, Dr. Klaiber went way above and beyond with all of the endless text messages and calls on her personal cell phone. Yesterday, when I needed her the most she answered all my calls and messages even though she was away on vacation…. I just can’t thank her enough… I will be forever grateful to her and her staff!!! Also….to the staff and doctors at Boston Road VCA Animal Hospital where we ended up yesterday. They too were so awesome, they only knew Jax for a few minutes and he had them all in tears. I thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart….!!!! I personally would like to thank everyone from the Southwick Animal Hospital and the Boston Road Animal Hospital. Thank you for taking care of two of our own.”

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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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