FCPD announced on March 10 that K9 Max, died. K9 Max served as a police officer with the department from 2012-2020 and enjoyed his retirement years, during which he remained a loyal companion and mentor to his K9 siblings.
On March 10, the Fairfax County Police Department announced the death of K9 Max, who served the department for eight years, from 2012 to 2020. “Max bravely apprehended dangerous criminals alongside his handler and brought joy to countless children through K9 demonstrations. In retirement, he remained a loyal companion and mentor to his K9 siblings,” posted FCPD on Facebook.
In September 2018, FCPD posted that PFC Matthew “Kyle” Kunstel, Max’s handler, said that the best part of being a K9 handler is being able to locate suspects that might have gotten away were it not for the help of a four-legged partner. “A successful catch as a K9 team is very rewarding. In his opinion, a K9 handler is given a tool no other officer has access to. When not patrolling with Max by his side, Kyle spends his time with his family. … And when Max isn’t out on patrol, he’s at home with Kyle’s family,” posted FCPD.
K-9 Max, described as a “gentle giant as well as a serious police officer,” retired from police work early in 2020 when Kunstel was promoted out of the K9 Unit. The then 9 1/2-year-old German Shepherd from the Czech Republic had served a distinguished career as a valuable asset of the department’s SWAT K9s.