MSP announces death of retired K9 officer

SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) - Michigan State Police have announced the death of a retired K9 officer.

Jax, a retired MSP K9 officer, suffered a medical condition and was humanely put down on Tuesday, May 23, MSP Lt. Kimberly Vetter said. He was 13-years-old.

Jax’s handler was Trooper Denis McGuckin. The pair served at the MSP Tri-City and Flint posts.

Jax is the officer who found Brooklyn Lilly when she went missing in East Tawas in 2014. She was in the woods for almost 24 hours in the cold and rain before being found, Vetter said.

Jax started with MSP in December 2013 and retired in 2021.