K9 Officer 'Falco': Montclair State University Bids Farewell

He conducted bomb sweeps for President Barak Obama and Gov. Chris Christie. He participated in countless DARE and K9 demonstrations in schools throughout the state.

But most importantly, he was a friend.

On Monday, the Montclair State University community bid farewell to its longtime K9 bomb sniffing dog, Falco, who passed away from a “sudden heart condition.”

The eight-year-old, purebred German Shepard graduated from the Essex County Sheriff’s K-9 Bomb Unit and was trained for explosive and handgun scent detection.

In addition to service on the MSU campus, Falco served as an on-call K9 for the Passaic and Essex County Sheriff’s offices. He also worked with the Hawthorne, Little Falls, Verona and Livingston police departments, as well as several federal agencies.

Montclair State University Police Officer Bill Comerro – Falco’s handler – said that the K9 was the best working partner that he could have hoped for.

“He was big part of our MSU family and a big part of my own family… He will be missed and never can be replaced,” Comerro said.

“Everyone in the University’s Police Department and the entire campus community are saddened by the loss of Falco, our 8-year-old K-9,” said MSU Police Chief Paul Cell. “Falco, a familiar and reassuring presence to our students, faculty and staff, was an integral part of our agency and its proactive safety programs. As with the loss of any police department member, we mourn his passing.”

Photo courtesy of Montclair State University via Facebook

Pictured above: K-9 officer Falco, right, with Montclair State University Narcotics Scent K-9, Max and handler Officer Bill Comerro