WINDHAM – Windham Police Department’s first K-9, Max, could be described by many in the community as a hero.

In fact, he was so valuable to the department and other law enforcement communities, that this past July, a memorial garden and headstone were created in his honor.

The memorial is displayed in front of the Windham Public Safety Building on Gray Road for all to see and remember Max by.

Max retired from service in 2008 and passed away in May, due to sickness and old age.

In 2000, at 13 months old, Max was imported to the United States from the Czech Republic. He was Windham PD’s first K-9, said his former handler, Windham Police Officer Bill Andrew, joining the force in 2001 following training. Max was bought with anonymous donations and money seized in drug busts, Andrew said.

Weighing 65 pounds at the time of his death, Max, a purebred German shepherd, was considered a multi-purpose K-9, Andrew explained.

“He [did] tracking, criminal apprehension, evidence recovery, drug and narcotics work, handler protection and building searches for people . . . the main focus of the training,” Andrew said.

“And, of course, we would have to be certified in obedience and agility, as well,” he added. Max received training through the Working Dog Foundation in New Hampshire, which is a part of the New Hampshire Police K-9 Academy, where Max and Andrew both had initial and in-service training.

In 2007, Max started to show signs of aging, and was diagnosed with arthritis in his spine, Andrew said. Through acupuncture, Max continued his work with the police department until he retired in 2008.

True hero

Andrew said he remembers a few police calls in which Max emerged as a true hero.

In May 2001, within Max’s first six months of being certified, Andrew and Max were called to Standish to assist sheriff deputies in a search for a 3-year-old who had been missing from his family home for more than an hour, Andrew said.

“Within 45 minutes of getting there, Max found the 3-year-old. It was late in the afternoon and the sun had just gone down, and it had cooled off. It was pretty amazing. That was probably one of the most emotional calls, with Max, for me,” Andrew said.

Max also had plenty of experience with the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Andrew said.

“He had some of the largest street seizures at that time of crack-cocaine,” Andrew said.

One bust was in Kittery, he said, where Max discovered half a kilogram of crack-cocaine in a hidden compartment of a BMW.

“That gentlemen was sentenced in federal court for that [seizure], based on Max’s alert,” he explained. According to Andrew, Max made another huge bust, where he found 2 kilograms of cocaine inside a briefcase, inside a vehicle.

“It would not have happened without the dog’s indication,” Andrew explained.

The briefcase, he said, had already been searched thoroughly by police, but nothing turned up.

“Max kept on indicating there was a presence of drugs,” Andrew said.

He added that there were a number of times where many suspects – known to be violent with law enforcement –surrendered to police because Max intimidated them.

New Max

Max’s successor, 9-year-old Gringko, from Germany, came on board with Windham PD in 2008, said Andrew.

“Gringko was trained by the German police,” he said, but required additional in-service training in order for Andrew to learn his “style.” Now the two work perfectly as a unit, said Windham Police Officer Jason Burke.

Before Max, the Windham Police Department didn’t consider having a K-9 unit, primarily because of budget concerns and the fact that it’s a huge commitment, Andrew said.

In 2000, however, with support of the Windham Town Council and with money from a drug seizure, the police department was able to outfit one of its vehicles for a dog.

“It was a zero cost to the town, and money was donated for the purchase of Max,” he said.

Eventually, Andrew said, he would like to see another K-9 unit added to the department, but for now, Gringko should do the job. In the next year or so, he said, the department may look for another replacement.

“If we can maintain one [K-9] in this economy, then we are doing well,” Andrew said.

Memorable

For years, Max was a valuable asset to law enforcement – but not just in Windham. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office also became well acquainted with Max and his ability to conquer almost any situation, said Sergeant Dave Hall of the sheriff’s office. Hall said he personally worked with Max in numerous situations, and vividly remembers the call where Max discovered the missing toddler.

“When we needed a K-9, he was always available and always came to assist to track people, whether it’s suspects, lost people, lost children,” Hall said. Max had an excellent “track record,” Hall added.

According to Hall, Max finding the missing 3-year-old was probably the most memorable experience of all. Had Max not been available for the call, he said, the child may have not been found as quickly, and the situation could have been worse.

“I wouldn’t even want to think what could’ve happened,” Hall said. “He was just a terrific dog.”

Max and his handler, Andrew, worked well together. “The dog would’ve done anything for Bill, and Bill would’ve done anything for that dog,” Hall said. “They were exceptional. I always referred to those two as the best in the state.”

Sergeant Tom Chard of the Scarborough Police Department, who helped train Max, couldn’t agree more. For a first-time police dog, Chard said, “you really couldn’t ask for a better dog.”

“Max is a good model for other K-9s,” added Burke. “He was easy to work with, and he had a very high success rate.”

“He soared,” Chard said of Max. Chard worked with Max for Max’s entire career at the Windham Police Department. From Day 1, until Max passed away, Windham was “lucky” to have him, Chard said.

“I saw him through trials, certifications and training. He was a super social dog. The best, well-rounded dog you could get,” Chard said.

“He is going to be missed,” Burke added.

Max, a German shepherd, was the Windham Police Department’s first K-9. Max retired from service in 2008 and passed away in May from old age.Imprinted on the memorial, located in the flower garden in front of the Windham Public Safety Building on Gray Road, is a picture of Max, the Windham Police Department’s first K-9, who died in May at the age of 13.