K9 Max – Lebanon, New Hampshire

Died – 12/11/17
Handler – Officer Jeremy Perkins

Lebanon Police Department says goodbye to K9 Max, who has succumbed to cancer

On Dec. 11, 2017, Lebanon Police Department K9 Max succumbed to cancer when he was euthanized after a long and courageous battle. K9 Max, a Belgian Malinois, joined the department in 2007 and was trained by his handler, Officer Jeremy Perkins. K9 Max spent the next ten years in dedicated service to the Lebanon Police Department, the City of Lebanon and our residents. Over the years, K9 Max was responsible for countless drug seizures, apprehensions and rescues. All Lebanon Police K9 teams train at the Vermont Police Academy and on several occasions, Officer Perkins and K9 Max were awarded the Vermont Police K9 Patrol Team of the Year award. This past year, K9 Max had several surgeries to remove cancerous tumors from his body. Despite his cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment, K9 Max continued to work along with Officer Perkins and they were an effective team until the very end. In November, K9 Max underwent a serious and invasive surgery to remove another cancerous tumor. Within a week of that surgery, K9 Max was back on patrol with Officer Perkins continuing to battle and continuing to serve our City. K9 Max spent his last day on patrol with his handler doing his duty, as he did for last ten years. At approximately 1 p.m, K9 Max and Officer Perkins arrived at Stonecliff Animal Hospital where K9 Max entered the facility through a receiving line of police officers rendering a salute. After his passing, K9 Max was given his last radio call before being escorted by Lebanon Police cruisers to SAVES in Lebanon, where he was given one final send off before being cremated.

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.