After seven years of dedicated service to the Hilliard community, HPD’s K9 Max is hanging up his leash.
Max, a Belgian Malinois, was three years old when he joined the City of Hilliard Division of Police in 2019. He was born and completed his initial training in France and responds to commands in French.
For the past several years, Max and his handler, Officer Hunter Schweickart, have responded to hundreds of calls for service, assisting officers with a wide range of incidents while also attending countless community events.
“Max has been an invaluable part of our department,” said Chief Michael Woods. “He’s been a trusted partner and dedicated protector. His work with Officer Schweickart has made a lasting impact on countless investigations and has helped keep our community safe.”
As a dual-purpose K9, Max is trained in criminal apprehension, tracking, article searches, and narcotics detection. His specialized training has made him a valuable partner in locating suspects, recovering evidence, and supporting drug investigations.
During his career, Max was deployed 735 times and assisted in more than 500 seizure incidents, contributing to more than 450 arrests. He also helped remove dangerous drugs from our streets, including nearly five pounds of fentanyl and 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine.
While those numbers reflect an impressive career, they tell only part of Max’s story. Behind every deployment were countless hours of training, unwavering focus, and the strong partnership he shared with Officer Schweickart.
Over the years, Max and Officer Schweickart also became familiar faces at community and educational events, including National Night Out, Safety Town, and Freedom Fest.
“Working alongside Max has been one of the highlights of my career,” said Officer Schweickart. “His drive, intelligence, and loyalty made him an exceptional K9 and partner. I’m looking forward to seeing him enjoy his well-deserved retirement.”
Although Max is retiring from active duty, he won’t be going far. He will remain with Officer Schweickart and his family, where he’ll enjoy a well-earned retirement filled with his favorite toy — a rubber ball on a rope — and plenty of pup cups, his favorite treat.
