K9 Maky – Hendersonville, North Carolina

Died – 2/21/20
Handler – Sgt. Robert Cantwell

Hendersonville Police Department mourns loss of K-9 Maky

The Hendersonville Police Department is mourning the loss of a K-9 officer that not only served his city, but also his country. K-9 Maky died Feb. 21. The German shepherd served the police department from 2015 to 2018 alongside partner and handler Sgt. Robert Cantwell. Maky not only served the city of Hendersonville, but also the U.S. Army in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2014. He developed an eye condition due to the elevation and overexposure to sunlight, which required him to have eye drops twice a day. Because it wasn’t feasible for soldiers to keep up with Maky’s needss he was disqualified from military service. Maky was still a viable work dog, so he was donated to the Hendersonville Police Department via the AMK9 Academy in Alabama. While with the police department, Maky worked as a full patrol dog, performing article, building and narcotic searches. He was also trained in apprehension of suspects. Maky was medically retired in 2018 and awarded to Cantell and his family. After retirement, Maky became close with the Cantwell family. He died with his best friend and partner at his side. “I’ve been doing this for 19 years,” said Cantwell. “Working with him was the greatest honor I’ve had in my law enforcement career.”

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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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