K9 Max – Thief River Falls, Minnesota

First-ever TRF Police K9, Max, unexpectedly passes away

Thief River Falls Police just announced the unexpected passing of the department’s first-ever police K9, Max.On Thursday, Feb. 29th, 2024, Max’s handler found his K9 partner dead in his kennel. Max’s body was brought to a veterinary clinic where they determined he died from Gastric Dilation-Volvulus, otherwise known as a stomach flip.Max was a 10 year old Belgian Malinois and was the department’s first-ever Police K9. He started his career with the TRF PD in 2017 as a single purpose narcotics detection K9. He earned dual-purpose certification the next year in 2018.Over his career, K9 Max and his handler, Mike Roff, have been involved in numerous felony level narcotics seizures. When Max died, he was semi-retired, due to the recent changes to the state marijuana laws, but was still active in school searches and community demonstrations about drug awareness.The Thief River Police Department say they’re currently in the process of replacing Max with a new single-purpose narcotics detection K9.

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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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