The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office has announced the passing of K-9 Evan, the partner of Sheriff’s Officer Kurt Kroeper.
Evan, a 7-year-old Labrador retriever who specialized in narcotics detection, was diagnosed with cancer several months ago.
Although his prognosis was hopeful, Evan developed an infection and died on June 27, according to a press release.
“Evan was an extraordinary member of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit,” Sheriff Shaun Golden said. “He played a pivotal role in ridding the streets of drugs that plague our county. Evan will be missed and never forgotten.”
Evan came to the sheriff’s office upon graduating from the Holmdel Police Canine Academy. He began service in 2009 with Kroeper. Throughout the course of their work, Kroeper and Evan seized in excess of more than $1.1 million in cash, a result of numerous drug investigations, according to the press release.
The K-9 team also located a significant amount of narcotics including heroin, cocaine and marijuana, which led to the arrests of hundreds of individuals. Evan was a familiar face throughout Monmouth County as he and Kroeper conducted K-9 demonstrations at schools and community events throughout the year. Evan remained on duty during his course of treatment, at the recommendation of veterinary specialists.
“Evan and I shared a special bond, we worked together, lived together and protected one another,” Kroeper said. “I am grateful to have had such an outstanding partner and appreciate all of the support in recent months.”
The sheriff’s office thanked everyone who sent well wishes to K-9 Evan and Kroeper and supported the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Donation Fund.
The staff offered a special acknowledgement to Evan’s veterinary specialists from the Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Tinton Falls, and the 4 Paws Animal Hospital, Marlboro.
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit presently consists of five sheriff’s officers/K-9 handlers and dogs which include one narcotics detection team, two explosives detection teams, one narcotics patrol team and one explosives detection patrol team.