K9 Mex – Whitehall, Pennsylvania

Handler – Sgt. Jeffrey Apgar

Whitehall Police mourn loss of K9 Mex

The Whitehall Township Police Department said Wednesday that K9 Mex died “following a brief and courageous battle with cancer.” K9 Mex began his career at the Whitehall Police Department in September 2014, township police said in a Facebook post.Sgt. Jeffrey Apgar has been K9 Mex’s handler and partner throughout his career. “Jeff and Mex were more than partners, they were highly dedicated to each other and the citizens that we serve,” township police said.K9 Mex received numerous awards and recognition throughout his career and was part of numerous criminal apprehensions and drug seizures in Whitehall Township and nearby jurisdictions, according to township police. “The Whitehall Police Department commends K9 Mex on a celebrated career and offer our sincere condolences to Sergeant Apgar and his family,” township police said on its Twitter post.

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.