K9 Major – Anoka, Minnesota

Died – 11/24/15
Handler – Officer Cullen Czech

Long-time sheriff’s office K9 passes away from illness

An Anoka County Sheriff’s Office K9, Major, died from an illness Tuesday, Nov. 24. Major has worked with Cullen Czech since 2007 when they were with the Big Lake Police Department. When Czech was hired by the Anoka County Attorney’s Office in 2009, Anoka County purchased Major to accompany his handler. Major had been slated for retirement at the end of this year. In a statement, the sheriff’s office said that Major enjoyed many successes in his time as a patrol dog and will be missed by the staff at the sheriff’s office, especially Czech who lost not only a partner but a member of his family. It is standard for police K9s to be boarded at their handler’s home. Sheriff James Stuart said, “Our K9 partners are an integral part of our team and these loses impact us all. We know it is especially hard on the handler, and their family, as the K9s are not just law enforcement tools, but become a part of their family too. We will heal together and continue on in our role as ambassadors to the community.”

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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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