We first met Brick Police K9 Max when he was just a puppy (while this reporter was running Brick Patch before Shorebeat existed). He was a ball of energy, seated in a patrol car, and he and handler Ptl. Keith Prendeville were getting ready to head to the Atlantic County K9 Academy together. The article that followed couldn’t be found, but suffice to say, Max and Prendeville went on to become an important team in the department.
Nine years later, Max is ready to retire after a career during which he was deployed nearly 1,000 times on various patrols, rescues, narcotics investigations and public appearances at township events. On Tuesday, Max worked his last shift and received quite the ovation as he leapt out from his Ford Explorer to the crowd waiting to wish him the best.
Max also had the honor during his time with the department of being outfitted with a bulletproof vest that was donated by Kindred Soul Canine Center in Howell in honor of the late Lakewood police officer Christopher Matlosz, who died in the line of duty in 2011.
The vest was inscribed with gold lettering: “In Memoriam: Patrol Officer Chris Matlosz, Lakewood Police Dept. Badge #317 – ‘Let This K-9 Officer Carry on the Spirit of Strength and Courage.'”
The department shared a video of Max’s last day on the job just after his big exit.
“Thank you to Ptl. Prendeville and K9 Max for your years of dedicated service to the Brick Township Police Department and the citizens of Brick Township,” the department said in the post.
Max will continue to live with Prendeville through his retirement.
