The K-9 dogs posed for pictures, but also demonstrated their bomb - and drug-sniffing skills and ability to Watch video
WEST LONG BRANCH -- Several of the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office's K-9 dogs displayed a softer side Wednesday, as they posed for pictures and interacted with Monmouth University students.
But at the snap of a finger, the jaws came out and the dogs showed their ability to apprehend a suspect and search for bombs and drugs.
"They have a switch they turn on," Sheriff's Officer Kurt Kroeper said of the dogs.
Kroeper's bloodhound Skye can go from snapping pictures with Santa Claus at the Monmouth Mall to sniffing out suspicious packages in a matter of seconds.
These dogs are highly skilled and provide an invaluable service to the sheriff's office, the officers said. But they also need protection.
That's why the Alpha Phi Sigma's Criminal Justice Honor Society held its fifth annual Paws for a Cause fundraiser at the student center at Monmouth University. The goal is to raise money for a new K-9 bulletproof vest.
Each vest costs $850, and with seven K-9s and one more currently in training, that can add up quickly. Students with APS estimated they raised more than $500 at Wednesday's fundraiser.
"It's good to give back and interact with the dogs," said APS President Regina Strugala, a 22-year-old Monmouth University senior from Sayreville.
APS Vice President Patricia Toomey said everyone knows police officers need protective vests but they sometimes forget K-9 units need them, too.
"Once we put it out there, people remember, 'Oh, yeah, the dogs need help too.' We get so many donations and people are so generous. It's really great to see people come together for the dogs," the 19-year-old sophomore said.
The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office has six handlers and seven K-9 dogs, with one more currently in training. The unit is made up of a mix of narcotics and explosive search teams and patrol teams.
Some dogs, like K-9 Tango, are cross-trained in narcotics and patrol. Others, like K-9 Gunner, just perform narcotics searches.
Regardless of the training, the dogs need protective vests so they are not injured in the line of duty.
So far in 2016, there have been eight K-9 dogs killed in the Line of Duty, according to the Officer Down Memorial website, a page dedicated to honoring police officers killed while on patrol. Of the eight K-9 dogs killed, four were shot and one was stabbed. In 2015, 26 K-9 officers were killed in the Line of Duty.
In Monmouth County, K-9 Solo was shot and killed in 1997 during an attempt to apprehend a wanted individual in Bradley Beach. A monument now sits outside the Monmouth County police academy honoring Solo, Sheriff Shaun Golden said.
"It does happen," Golden said of K-9 dogs who are killed in action. "We don't want it to happen to our K-9s, we want to protect them. In order to do that, we need to buy them vests."
Golden said the Monmouth University community has pulled together for the past five years and is very gracious with making donations.
"I'm so inspired by all of the Monmouth University community in helping us do this," he said. "So thank you very much on behalf of the sheriff's office."
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.