THIEF RIVER FALLS — A longtime K-9 partner of the Thief River Falls Police Department unexpectedly died Thursday, Feb. 29.
The 10-year-old Belgian Malinois named Max was the first-ever K-9 to serve on the Thief River Falls Police Department and began his career in 2017.
As a narcotics detection dog, Max became semi-retired recently due to changes in the state’s marijuana laws. But he remained active in school searches and community demonstrations with his handler Deputy Chief Mike Roff.
According to a department news release, Max was found dead in his kennel Thursday. A necropsy performed by Valley Animal Hospital in Thief River Falls determined he died from gastric dilatation-volvulus, a condition commonly known as a stomach flip.
The police department reports it is currently in the process of replacing Max with a new single-purpose narcotics detection K-9.
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