Former Brick Bomb-Sniffing K-9 Neo Mourned

A former Brick Township K-9 officer is being mourned this morning, after the dog’s death on Monday.

Retired Brick Township Sgt. Ron Braen said K-9 Neo -- a Labrador retriever trained in explosives detection -- died on Monday.

K-9 Neo was one of two K-9 partners of Braen; his other K-9, a Labrador named Eros, adied in August 2014, according to a post by Braen on the GoHeroes.us website.

Braen, along with K-9 Neo and K-9 Eros, retired from the Brick Township Police Department in 2012 and had worked for the New Jersey Humane Police since then.

Braen said that during their career in Brick, Neo did many explosives searches, “keeping our citizens safe.”

Neo also was part of the security detail for Condoleeza Rice, Bruck Springsteen and worked security for Super Bowl XLVII, Braen said.

“After his security detail (for Rice), she thanked him for his service,” Braen said. And with Springsteen, “On the second day Bruce said, ‘Maybe I should put him in the show.’ ”

“(Neo) will be missed not only for his great accomplishments and dedication but will forever be in our hearts as part of our family,” Braen said.

The police department mourned K-9 Dakota last month, after the German shepherd was euthanized due to liver cancer that had spread to his chest, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press.

(Retired Sgt. Ron Braen, with K-9 Neo, served on a security detail for former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Photo courtesy of Ron Braen)