K9 Max – South Fulton, Georgia

Died – 11/17/23

K-9 killed by friendly fire in operation with College Park police

A K9 with the South Fulton Police Department has died after he was shot in the line of duty by an officer with another department. South Fulton police confirmed K9 Max’s death Friday. Officials said South Fulton and College Park police were trying to catch a suspect who ran from a traffic stop and fired a gun several times. Police said they received word around 10:45 a.m. that the suspect was spotted on Lakemont Drive and the K9 team responded. Police said K9 Max was shot by a College Park officer during the search.“The South Fulton Police Department is working closely with the College Park Police Department to thoroughly investigate this heartbreaking incident. We are committed to understanding the full circumstances of this tragedy and ensuring such an incident does not occur again,” the department stated. South Fulton police said that officers did take the assault suspect into custody. They identified him as 34-year-old George Humphrey. He faces charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing & attempting to elude, willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer and multiple traffic charges.

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.