In Loving Memory
of
K-9
MEKO
date
Partner:
Officer Tom Cortese
Connecticut
State Police K-9 Unit
1111
Country Club Road
Middletown,
Connecticut 06457-9294
203)
630-5656 or fax at (203) 630-5664.
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Loss
of police K9 mourned
By:
Linda Medura , correspondent - East Hartford Gazette
2003
Meko
appeared on an EHPD trading card. For East Hartford Police Officer and
Investigator Tom Cortese, the loss of Meko, his K-9 partner of 6 years,
has left a void that will not be filled easily or soon. A sleek, black
Lab with an energy level and spirit that even the "Energizer Bunny" would
have envied, Meko fought crime undercover rather than on the streets and
was considered by many Police Departments and agencies to be this town's
best kept secret. But Meko died while being treated for an unrelated problem
in June 14. "When you talk about K-9's," says Cortese, "you're talking
about a lot of different types of dogs and the jobs they do. Most folks
are familiar with the Patrol dogs - the German Shepherds they see on the
streets taking on the bad guys. But then there are the specialty dogs,
sometimes labeled Food Reward dogs. These are mostly your Labs and Retrievers
who are trained in arson, bombs, drugs, search and cadavers." Meko's
specialty was narcotics. He was one of only 8 State Police certified narcotics
crime-fighting K-9's in Con-necticut that could do this line of work. While
patrol dogs lead hard, danger-filled lives, specialty dogs live just as
dangerously and are regarded as true working animals, in every sense of
the word. Not only are their days highly structured, but they must work
every single day in order to eat. The Food Reward Method used to train
them is rigorous and labor intensive for both the dog and trainer. Cortese
explains how 365 days of the year, for 6 years, he devised and set up training
aids, places where he hides drugs. Given Meko's own keen intelligence and
his breed's innate appetite and drive, it didn't take the K-9 long to ferret
out these stashes and in time, the entire process became a game.
"You could just see it in his face," says Cortese. "The minute he saw me
with the leash and food packet, his behavior and attitude changed. He couldn't
wait to begin." Life wasn't always so kind to the spirited lab with
the constantly wagging tail. Before Cortese rescued him, home had been
a cage at the New Britain Dog Pound. A friend, knowing the Officer had
been looking for a dog told him about the lab. Cortese came to visit, did
some basic tests, found Meko very responsive and ended up adopting him
on the spot. Shortly after, having passed all the initial tests with
flying colors, Meko and Cortese were accepted into the Connecticut State
Police K-9 Narcotics Academy. Along with 6 other teams, they received 10
intensive weeks of training. The two graduated in May of 1999. K-9
Meko and Officer Cortese are credited with seizing millions in cash and
actual narcotics. They have been as-signed to the statewide Narcotics Task
Force and been part of wire taps. They have assisted the DEA (Drug Enforce-ment
Agency), Connecticut Postal Inspectors and FedEx. On a regular basis, the
clever K-9 uncovered packages of Hash, Heroin and Steroids being sent through
the U.S. mail system as well as drugs and steroids shipped internationally
from foreign countries into the U.S. Last summer, Meko was responsible
for intercepting 160 pounds of marijuana destined for a certain location
here in East Hartford. In recognition of their work, the two have
received numerous letters of commendation from outside agencies thanking
them for their services and assistance with arrests. Although he
looks forward to eventually working with a new K-9 partner, Cortese is
adamant that he won't forget Meko. Endurance. Fidelity. Intelligence. And
energy! Lots and lots of energy! This black lab had it all.
submitted by Jim Cortina,
Dir. CPWDA
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In Loving Memory
of
K-9
DAX
May
5, 2003
Partner:
Sgt. Fred Scholl
Illinois
State Police District 11
1100
E. Port Plaza Dr.
Collinsville,
IL 62234
address:
618 346 3990
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Eastwest K-9 is very sad to report the passing of K-9 "Dax" (Illinois State
Police District 11) on 05/05/03. K-9 Officer Fred Scholl had to have
Dax put down due to a serious disease. K-9 Officer Scholl and Dax
trained with Eastwest K-9 on many occasions. Dax had many large narcotic
finds as well as successful tracks of suspects. Dax will be added
to he memorial section of this site. Our hearts go out to K-9 Officer
Scholl and his family for their loss.
On
May 5th, 2003, Illinois State Police K-9 Dax was put to sleep two days
after being diagnosed with cancer. Dax began his career after graduating
the State Police Academy in May of 1996. He and I were partners for
8 years. On our first day of patrol together Dax began his career
quickly with a search of a pickup truck. This search was within the
first 30 minutes of our first shift together. Dax alerted to the
exterior of the truck . We found 13 grams of cannabis, a handgun,
and $35,000 in cash. Dax was off and running. During his tenure Dax
recovered over 7.5 million dollars worth of narcotics and over 1 million
dollars in cash. There were many alerts to 5 or 10 grams of cannabis,
but every now and then he would hit a big one. Three of his larger
finds
include
450 pounds of cannabis, 5 kilos of meth, and $150,000 in cash.
Dax was also called upon many times to track criminals or missing persons,
locate evidence, search buildings, and locate cadavers. Dax had many
successes. On one of his last tracks in April, Dax tracked a car
thief over 6 blocks in a residential neighborhood. He went over fences,
across streets, and through dozens of back yards. He tracked all
the way to a side door of a house and then stopped. Madison County
Deputies entered the house and located the suspect in the basement.
Dax was one of the first State Police K-9's to be certified as a SWAT dog.
We worked over 100 operations with the Illinois State Police Tactical Response
Team. He was very social around the team members. But when
called upon to grab the bad guy, he was tenacious. Of the dozen apprehensions
he had, many were while we were working with TRT. Most of all, Dax
was a great friend. After spending the last eight years with him
at home and at work, he became a part of me. While on patrol, I find
myself still talking to him over my shoulder. He is missed at home
by my wife and two boys. Dax was a very hard working and loyal companion.
I miss him greatly. Sergeant Fred Scholl. Illinois Sate Police District
11.
by:
Eric Bailey
EastWestK-9.com
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In Loving Memory
of
K-9
MAX
August
31, 2003
Partner:
Officer Jennifer Smith
Ocean
City, MD Police Department
Ocean
City Police Department
P.O.
Box 759
Ocean
City, MD 21843-0759
(410)
723-6609
K-9
MAX
Birth
name: Dexter V. Altlachgrund
Title:
Schutzund III
(Shutzund
means “protection dog” and level III is the highest title)
DOB:
February 5, 1995
Place
of Birth: Germany
It
is with the greatest of sorrow and heavy hearts that my wife (Police Officer
First Class Jennifer L. Smith of the Ocean City Maryland Police K-9 Unit)
and I announce the death of my wife's beloved K-9 partner Max.
Max
was 8 1/2 yrs old and has succumbed to his battle with terminal cancer.
Max's indomitable drive and spirit pressed on, but his body just could
not make it. Max has touched us so deeply and is a very important member
of our family. He will live with us always.
For
those of you that were part of Jennifer and Max's K-9 career and helped
enhance their lives and performance, we thank you so much.
Please
keep Jennifer and Max in your prayers and give the furry cops an extra
treat and a pat on the head from us!
Hey,
Max, we'll see ya when we get there buddy!
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Max
was born in 1995 in Germany. He was trained in Shutzund which means protection
dog work. Max was the highest pre-trained dog the department had ever purchased
at that time. By the time he was 2 1/2 years old, MAX had already reached
his Level III Schutzund (Master Level) Certification. This includes tracking,
handler protection, obedience. To reach this level he had to:
-
1.
Demonstrate an even and social temperament
-
2.
He had to complete a successful track that was laid by a stranger, over
50 minutes old and over ¾ mile long.
-
3.
He had to pass a 10 point obedience test including an obstacle course while
carrying a 2 lb dumbbell, retrieving a 5 lb dumbbell, being recalled and
not biting while chasing a suspect, and staying over long period of time
with multiple distractions.
-
4.
He had to pass a protection test including searching for a suspect, bark
and detaining a suspect, escaping from and defending himself against
an aggressor, escorting prisoners, apprehension of suspects, (bite work),
courage tests, and a fighting instinct test.
I was paired
up with Max in September of 1998. OCPD K-9 trainer Kevin Healy got Max
from a K-9 breeder / importer. Kevin Healy switched Max over to English
commands in training because he was trained in Germany. I went to
a 400hr / 12 week K-9 Academy taught by Kevin Healy. Max and I trained
in obedience, suspect apprehension, drug searches of buildings, cars and
open areas, evidence / article searches, suspect tracking, and handler
protection. I started working the streets on patrol with Max in Jan 1999.
During our K-9 Academy , my fellow classmates nicknamed Max “Wonder Dog”
because he was so obedient.
In our
4 1/2 years on the road together, we compilied the following statics:
Building
Searches
170
Tracks
48
Located suspects by tracking in felony drug cases, hit run accidents, fleeing
and eluding police officer cases, burglary cases
Drug
Searches
237
Located and responsible for felony drug seizures multiple arrests involving
cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine
Public
Demonstrations
7
- Certified
through NAPWDA (North American Police Work Dog Association)
Comments from the Master Trainers "Good working team" "Good bond between
handler / dog" "Excellent control over K-9 in obedience and aggression
control"
-
Appeared on Television and in local papers numerous times
-
Placed 2nd Place in "Iron Dog" Competition in VA Beach (includes a four
mile obstacle run)
MAX
passed away on August 31, 2003 at 7:30 p.m., from terminal liver cancer.
Max was 8 1/2 years old.
"K-9
handlers and their partners experience a very unique relationship and losing
a K-9 partner is like losing a child. I am so proud of Max and all we accomplished
as a team. If only we humans could be as dedicated, brave and driven as
Max and his K-9 counterparts, we would be breed of super heroes.
When you see a K-9 Police Car and a K-9 cop on the street, be thankful
these men and women and their four legged guardians of freedom are on patrol
and watching over your city." (quoted Jeff)
My proudest
moment with MAX on duty:
We tracked
a fleeing suspect through the little Salisbury area for 5 blocks over pavement
and grass. As MAX and I approached the suspect, the suspect came out of
his hiding spot and started to run again. I gave my commands for the suspect
to stop and warned him I would release MAX if he did not stop. He did not
stop and continued to run. I released MAX and MAX ran after the suspect
to apprehend him. Just as MAX was about to bite the suspect, the suspect
surrendered. MAX had enough discipline to do exactly as he was trained
and NOT bite the suspect. He was trained to use force only on people not
surrendering. MAX stopped in mid-stride and barked and detained the suspect
until we handcuffed him. I was very proud because my dog made a split
second use of force decision that many humans would not be able to make
and he made the absolute correct legal and moral choice!
submitted
by Jeff Smith who misses him also.
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Memorials to Fallen K-9s 