By Gary Massaro
There was one thing tougher than Max, the K-9 cop – an internal infection.
Max gnaws on a treat at his retirement party.
Max died less than a week after he was honored with a retirement party from the Greenwood Village Police Department.
Jeff Mulqueen, Max’s handler, notified colleagues by e-mail. Max was honored at a reception May 7. Officers and other personnel shared a potluck. Someone brought in a dog food cake shaped like a bone for Max.
The German shepherd from Belgium was going to live out his days in retirement with the Mulqueen family.
And it turned out to be just that, days.
“It is with great sadness that I have to report that Max ended up with an infection throughout his abdomen and intestines. Max passed away this week at home with his family,” Mulqueen wrote last week.
Max had finished his service with the GVPD before the party. When Mulqueen was heading out to work, Max would be poised at the front door, ready to go to work, too. And Mulqueen would tell Max that he was retired and going to stay home.
It doesn’t matter if Max understood anything other than his commands when Mulqueen spoke to him. The one-sided conversations kept Mulqueen going on night shifts or other doldrum parts of patrol duty.
Max was given this dog food cake shaped like a bone during his retirement party, May 7. Photos by Chandra Thurston, Greenwood Village Police Forensic Services Technician.
And he gave Mulqueen a boost when they were on the job together. Mulqueen said it was comforting to know that he had a partner with him.
For all who bid Max a fond farewell, Mulqueen said, “I wanted to thank everyone again for his retirement party as he was thrilled to be back here at GV being spoiled. There could not have been a better send-off for him, so thanks for making his last days here happy.”
Mayor Pro Tem Ron Rakowsky was saddened to hear of Max’s death.
“It’s providential that we were able to honor Max before his passing,” said Rakowsky.
Rakowsky had gone on a ride-along with Max.
“He was always kind of there. But I don’t remember anything where he was critical. But part of having a dog sends a very strong psychological message,” Rakowsky said.
True, Mulqueen said.
“He never got to bite anybody,” Mulqueen said. “They all gave up first.”
