Hackettstown Police Reflect On Life Of K9 Jada A Year Later

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ - She left an impact on the Hackettstown community as a whole while she served with the Hackettstown Police Department.

People continued to remember K9 Jada recently on the one-year anniversary of her passing, after she suffered a medical emergency on the job that she loved, with one of the people who she loved the most, her handler Officer Christopher Laver.

“Her spirit of service is alive today and always will be,” the Hackettstown Police Department wrote in a special one-year anniversary tribute to Jada on Aug. 19.

A Belgian Malinois, K9 Jada was only five years old when she died, Laver rushing with her to the Newton Veterinary Hospital on Aug. 19, 2020, as the hospital attempted to perform lifesaving measures.

Her tragic and sudden death hit Laver’s entire family deeply.

A funeral for Jada that the community was involved with and later a GoFundMe fundraiser took place, to raise funds for another K9 for the department.

K9 Edo has since joined the department, a Belgian Malinois and Shepherd who turned two in June, to carry on in Jada’s paw prints; and start his own trail of service as “K9-2.”

Edo celebrated his graduation in May from the Union County Sheriff’s K9 Academy Narcotics Detection Class, having graduated in Nov. 2020, a celebration deferred because of COVID-19.

To follow K9 Edo’s page, click here.

Jada had a fan following, with her Facebook Page still active as a memorial to her here.

RELATED: Hackettstown K9 Officer Dies On Duty

Reporting contributed by Russ Crespolini

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.