Mark Connolly

Originally from the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts, Mark moved to North Carolina in 1995.

A former Police K9 handler and K9 Training Director for multiple departments, Mark brings a lot of experience handling and training different types of dogs. During Mark’s law enforcement career he handled two dual-purpose German Shepherd dogs. K9 Janick was Mark’s first partner and has since passed over the “rainbow bridge”. K9 Cliff is Mark’s current dog that he personally trained from a puppy to become a very successful Police Dog. K9 Cliff has been trained and certified multiple times to the national standards of the North American Police Working Dog Association.

Mark has helped teach Police K9 officers how to handle and train their partners to certification levels and also turned suppressed K9 units into respected divisions of their departments. Mark has gained the respect of many veteran K9 trainers and handlers throughout the country.

On April 11th, 2005 Mark and Amy’s life changed forever. Mark and K9 Cliff were involved in a vehicle pursuit of three gang members that failed to stop for his blue lights and siren. The vehicle chase ended violently in a gunfight where Mark was shot three times by the armed and fleeing suspects. By the grace of God, the bullet that could have fatally wounded Mark was stopped by his bullet-resistant vest.
Although his love for the job never died, nor did his willingness to pursue injustice, Mark’s role as a Police Officer has taken a different path. He now pursues each opportunity to make all dogs’ better members of their community through training and education of their owners.

West Virginia Canine College
Professional Dog Trainer Certificate
Narcotic Detector Dog Trainer Certificate
Certified Narcotic Detector Dog Handler

Martin Deeley’ s “E-Touch™" method certified

Cleveland Community College
Basic Law Enforcement Training Certificate
4.0 GPA

Cherryville Police Department
Police K9 Officer & Police K9 Training Director

Mount Holly Police Department
Police Corporal, Police K9 Handler, K9 Training Director

Belmont Police
K9 Command was contracted to handle all Police K9 and handler training

Duke Energy
McGuire Nuclear Plant
Company Police Officer / Nuclear Security
Armed Responder

Seminars and Workshops attended:

Fred Hassen Remote Collar Training for Police Dogs 2002
Martin Deeley's E-touch Seminar 2006
Police K9 Law 2001, 2002, 2005
Police K9 Institute Decoy Seminar 2005
Eastern States Working Dog Association Workshop 2005
Police K9 Seminar with Richard Dickson 2005
NAPWDA workshop & certification 2003
NAPWDA workshop & certification 2004
National NAPWDA workshop & certification 2005
National NAPWDA Explosive Detector Workshop 2004
National Police Bloodhound Association Seminar 2004
American Street Ring Seminar 2002
NVBK Belgian Ring Seminar 2002
Over a half dozen law enforcement drug interdiction schools

Awards

Law Enforcement Officer Purple Heart Award recipient from the City of Mount Holly
Valor Award recipient from North American Police Working Dog Association
Meritorious Service Award from North Carolina Gang Investigators Association
IACP/Dupont Kevlar Survivors Award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police / Dupont

Active Memberships

International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)
Professional Member #2570

North American Police Working Dog Association (NAPWDA)
“Lifetime Member”

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