K9 Mac – MTA Police, New York

Died – 1/30/24
Handler – Officer Alison Schmitt

MTA Police K9 officer ‘Mac,’ who protected Long Island commuters, dies at 7

The MTA Police K9 officer Mac, whose journey from a playful pup to a fierce protector of Long Island commuters died on Jan. 30 from lymphoma, his family said. Mac, you were my best friend, my first partner, my protector, my eyes, my ears. Officer Alison Schmitt said he was energetic, he was driven, and that’s what a police dog needs to be. Schmitt graduated from the MTA PD’s explosive detection program with Mac on Jan. 31. 2018.Schmitt worked with the MTA PD, working primarily in the Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station. Schmitt and Mac began training in the MTA’s 12-week explosive detection course in upstate in Stormville. A tradition of the MTA PD’s K-9 Unit, dogs are named in honor of fallen police officers, firefighters and members of the United States Armed Services. Schmitt chose to name Mac after NYPD Detective Steven McDonald, a Malvernite who was known by many for promoting peace and forgiveness after being shot in Central Park in 1986. McDonald became a quadriplegic due to the shooting, and lived for 31 years before he died in January 2017.

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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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