Fallen Monmouth Co. K-9s Get A Statue, Thanks To Local Boy Scout

MONMOUTH COUNTY — A new four-legged statue stands next to the Monmouth County Police Academy.

"In honor of the K-9s that served within the Monmouth County law enforcement agencies and those that made the ultimate sacrifice," the concrete base reads. "Their loyalty, courage and bravery will never be forgotten."

The life-size police dog statue is the result of a project by eagle scout Devin Motani of Boy Scouts of America Troop 101 in Morganville. It was unveiled on Wednesday at a ceremony with members of law enforcement, Monmouth County officials and K-9 teams.

Motani is the son of a police officer in Howell Township and has always had strong ties to law enforcement. He's particularly interested in the work of police dogs and their handlers, according to the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office.

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The statue project began with an initial meeting between Devin, Sheriff Shaun Golden and Monmouth County Police Academy staff in 2019.

“When Devin approached the Monmouth County Police Academy with his idea, we were touched that he chose to take on a tremendous project to honor the sacrifice and service of all K-9s who risk their lives to protect the public,” said Golden.

With the support of members of the community, Motani was able to raise $22,575 online. The project had a total value of $30,015. In addition, there were 322 hours of service distributed among 28 individuals.

"The project was met with some challenges. Devin had to raise a large sum of money and overcome quite a few obstacles during the pandemic, but he was determined to make it work and complete this incredible endeavor," Golden said.

The memorial stands next to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office memorial for K-9 Solo, a German Shepherd who was shot and killed during an attempted apprehension of someone who was barricaded inside a home in 1998, according to the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office.

“It is amazing to see the added value that these animals bring to the general public, as well as military and law enforcement agencies around the world," Motani said in a statement. "However, I feel they are not always memorialized as well as they should be. K-9s put their lives on the line just like police officers do, which is why they deserve to be respectfully memorialized and remembered forever, through the construction of this project."