Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in peace K9 Maxo.

Police Officer II D. Vaquero
San Diego Police Department

March 8, 2013

Rest in Peace my four legged friend. Know that you will be missed by all who ever knew you.

Sergeant Dan Sartorius
Norfolk Airport Police Canine Division

March 8, 2013

God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain; but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.


Rest in peace.

Michelle, wife of US Marshal

March 8, 2013

Officer-Technician Duane Tomaszewski, may K9 Maxo rest in peace. Bless his soul for his unconditional loyalty and service to you and your unit. xoxo

Ofc. Danielle LaFantano
Danbury Police Dept., CT

March 8, 2013

K-9 Maxo I hope you are playing with my girl K-9 Yepa. It has been 3 years now and i miss her like yesterday. Only a handler could understand your abilitoes and heart. Rest and play in peace. Always remember "Him a Good Boy "

E. A. Perras, Chief Investigator
Detective Services, Washington State

March 8, 2013

REST AND PLAY IN PEACE, K-9 MAXO
USA SECRET SERVICE UNIFORMED DIVISION
American Hero – LODD 1.26.13 – not since 1976

Unless one is in the top level of elite law enforcement, they may only know little about a Secret Service dog and pretty much nothing at all if one is not military or law enforcement. We know why that is justified; but when the public eye doesn't see, often the heart doesn't grieve and K-9 Maxo deserves to have the public know how much he mattered now and just how ELITE and ‘best of breed’ he had to be to get the job of guarding our USA Vice President . Rest and Play in Peace, K9 Maxo - Angels will sing for you now, and you'll hear no more bombs or bullets. I would like to know more about you even if it just was who cried at your service. You lived and died a life with and only meant for the fearless and strongest and finest of American heroes, and you were one of them; and you wore the Badge of the Very Elite. You will be missed by those who know how to do and give Honor and Memory the best and for that you will be forever immortal.

Barbara Snow Executive Director
US WAR DOGS Assn Southern Chapter, Bronson, FLBronson FL

March 7, 2013

RIP Maxo, job well done hero. May God bless his partner.

Officer
Deputy (Reserve) Tennessee

March 7, 2013

R.I.P. Maxo

P.O. K. Murphy
Union PD, NJ

March 7, 2013

I am very much prompted to write about this amazing dog.- even though I never knew him. Because of two reasons. Unless one is in the top level of elite law enforcement, they may only know little about a Secret Service dog and pretty much nothing at all if one is not military or law enforcement. We know why that is justified; but when the public eye doesn't see, often the heart doesn't grieve and Maxo deserves to have the public know how much he mattered now and just how ELITE and best of breed he had to be to get the job of guarding the Vice President . My second reason is to share an experience when I directed animal control in Fairfax County . Walking in the kennel I stopped, and a black lab among 100 plus other dogs caught my attention. He had the 'look' about him that told me he had great potential - almost as if he could antipate his own nobility to come. His time was "up" in the kennels at that time and I placed a call to DC Police. I shared my exuberent enthusiasm with the two officers who came but it wasn't retuned. They took him out back and returned in 45 minutes and said three words 'Well take him". Well I wanted more from them so I asked if they agreed that he had great potential and they told me they had to wait and see as he had to pass training - and I said 'well how will I know?" and they responded - we'll invite you to the graduation if he passes. Somehow I trusted them and that the dog would pass training and didnt ask any more questions and they left. Several months later I got a beautiful engraved invitation in the mail for his graduation that said I must bring the invitation with me and I thought that was strange. I drove over to Ft Myer for the ceremony - To my surprise the place was filled with white shirt command staff and men in suits with crew cuts, dark glasses and they were talking into their shoulders - and I thought somebody very important must be here - this looks like the Secret Service - and it was. I inquired of someone who looked like he may answer me (a giant teddy bear of a man in uniform with grey hair and many medals), and I asked who was here that was so important and would come to the dogs graduation. He told me its 'just the dog'. I told him he came from the shelter where I worked; and he told me he was a Secret Service dog now and he was going to work for George Bush (the daddy) as his bomb dog. I knew then that I would have to ask all the questions I ever wanted to because if I called the next day I would get - what dog, lady? we don't know about any dog......I found out he was going that nite to the opera to check the area Mrs. Bush sat in and that weekend he was going to Camp David - I thought WOW - what a social life this dog will have.....I often wondered about him and I was lucky to get my answer right here in Bronson FL a few years later. One of our neighbors was in the Seabees and he was assigned to Camp David. He told me that Pres Bush Sr always acknowledged the dogs and took the time to pet them no matter what was on his mind at that time - I had no way of knowing if it was "my" dog he saw there as I was told he had more than one sniffer dog; but I knew then their life was special and they were cared for and appreciated. That call I made to the DC police was one of the ten best calls I ever made in my life. K9 Maxo deserves Honor and Memory now and for his achievements to be known and shared now that he is no longer with us - he had to be better than the best to get and keep the job he had and his terrible and tragic LODD is a giant loss - He should have been more in the news than he was and we should know of the Honor he received at his Memorial service and that if called on he would have given his life to save those he guarded just as the Secret Service agents would - Sometimes dogs are bred and bought at huge expense for their greatness and sometimes we find a diamond in the dirt. Rest and Play in Peace now, K9 Maxo - Angels will sing for you now and you'll hear no more bombs or bullets - I would like to know more about you even if it just was who cried at your service - It would then tell me who cried over a dog I knew many years ago. K-9 Maxo, you lived and died a life with and only meant for the fearless and strongest and finest of American heroes and you were one of them, and you wore the Badge of the Elite. Those who knew you won't let you be forgotten. With that Honor and Memory from those who do it best, comes your immortality.

We, who choose to surround ourselves
With lives even more temporary than our own,
Live within a fragile circle,
Easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
We still would live no other way.
We cherish memory as
The only certain immortality,
Never fully understanding
The necessary plan. Irving Townsend
barbara snow USWAR DOGS Assn

Barbara Snow Executive Director
US WAR DOGS Assn Southern Chapter, Bronson, FLBronson FL

March 7, 2013

RIP Maxo. My thought's and prayer go out to Maxo's handler and his family.

Retired Detective Don Vine #5896
Phoenix Police Department

March 6, 2013

Hope, and I know, you crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Playing now with your buddies and waiting for your human friend to arrive.
Wuff to all Belgians up there...

VK
Belgian Sheps

March 6, 2013

Rest in Peace Maxo. Your tour of duty is replaced with playing and running with all the other beloved officers waiting for you on the other side. Job well done baby. You will be missed and in our thoughts until we meet again, I will be the one with lots of ropes and kongs!

CO Kathy
Sister

March 6, 2013

Maxo will always be in my and my family's heart.

Our time together was tragically cut short. Maxo is the first Explosives Detection Canine (K-9) to pass away while in the Line of Duty since the USSS Uniformed Division K9 Unit was created in 1976.

The relationship that we as dog handlers have with our partners is so strong, that it is hard to convey in words what they mean to us. And when they pass away, it is hard to adjust without seeing them every minute of everyday. But for those days I did have with him, I will cherish forever.

Some of you have shared with me moments that Maxo and I have had with you. Whether it was letting him pose with you and your family for photos or him leaning up against you, so you could pet him because you had a free hand. Maxo in the short time he was here touched many of our hearts and will be missed very much.

Officer-Technician Duane Tomaszewski
Maxo's Handler United States Secret Service / Uniformed Division K9

March 6, 2013

Rest In Peace Maxo. Run around by the Rainbow Bridge as your handler continues on in your honor. My condolences to your Handler and the US Secret Service.

Sgt Fred Nordt
Lake Success PD, Long Island, NY

March 6, 2013

Rest in Peace Maxo

PO Lou Venturini
Suffern Police Dept Suffern NY / Friend

March 5, 2013

How incredibly sad! Thanks you brave Maxo!! Does anyone know where condolence letters can be sent?

Joyce

March 5, 2013

I hope our VP appreciates the sacrifice! RIP brave K-9!!!!!

LINDA HUNT
mom of Maryland Trooper

March 5, 2013

I just retired my 7 year old German Shepherd from Patrol/Explosives Detection duty. I want to express my sincere Condolences to you and to your family for your loss of Maxo. I do want you to know that myself and my family realize how much work and dedication that it takes to perform those duties and the bond between you and your partner.

Det. Tim Meehan
Middletown Police Dept. Middletown, Ohio

March 5, 2013

Heartbreaking. I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Maxo is in my prayers.

IOS Joseph A. Pires
ICE

March 5, 2013

You have guarded our backs, always with that pleasure to please. We have trusted you even when we had our own doubts, and you prevailed. Thanks for never showing fear when there was fear and always going the extra mile no matter what the call was. You will be missed, you will never be replaced. Go and romp in that great puppy heaven, play with the ball and roll on your back forever. You earned it partner.
Former K9 Ofcr.

Sean D. Creamer; C-LEO ret.
Tryon Palace Security Unit, New Bern, NC

March 5, 2013

God Bless K-9 Maxo and his handler.

Sgt. Det. Robert M Spinney Jr. Ret.
MBTA Transit Police Massachsuetts

March 5, 2013

Rest in peace K-9 MAXO, my sincere condolences to your partner and to your department. Godspeed as you now run the streets of gold, with my TANJA.

OFC TERRY F. ZECH
VETERAN AFFAIRS POLICE , DETROIT, MICHIGAN

March 5, 2013

Thank you for your great service. My prayers go out to your partner and dept.You will never be forgotten.

Officer J.Chadwick
Mounds PD

March 5, 2013

I am so sorry for your loss. God Speed Maxo

Christina williams

March 5, 2013

I work with K-9's for the US dept. Of Veterans Affairs Vetrenary Medical Unit and it touches my heart when any officer falls, but it really hits home when one of our k-9 officers pass on or off duty. Their love, passion and willingness to please is unconditional. Somthing I feel we as humans could learn from.
RIP Maxo, good dog.

Animal Control/CSO-retired
US Department of Veterans Affairs- Veterinary Medical Unit

March 5, 2013