Secaucus Cub Scouts Meet K9 Brix, The Police Dog

SECAUCUS, NJ — Even in the middle of winter, the boys of Secaucus Cub Scout Pack #87 are always up to something!

This past Friday night, Jan. 26, the boys were treated to a very special visit from the Secaucus Police Department's drug-sniffing K9 Brix. Brix was brought to the meeting by his handler, Secaucus Police Officer Tyler Pein.

Pein showed the boys how Brix responds to commands. Unlike when therapy dog Oakley visited the Cubs last January, the boys were not allowed to touch or pet Brix. (See photos from that visit: Secaucus Boy Scouts Meet Oakley, SPD's Therapy Dog)

Pein explained that Brix's reward when he has done good police work is either a treat or to be allowed to bite something.

So this time, none of the Cubs were allowed to interact with Brix.

After Brix left, the boys also received a lesson in boating safety and life jacket safety from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 014-10-02, which is based in Secaucus. Coast Guard Auxiliary members Claud Macchieraldo and Donna Przychodzki gave the presentation on boat safety and proper life-jacket wearing.

Brix has been trained in locating missing people (by scent-tracking them), and he is also trained to sniff out illegal drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. In November 2023, Secaucus Police used Brix in this traffic stop: The dog smelled drugs in the vehicle, and a search of the car unearthed 1,800 pills of ecstasy and 4.5 ounces of cocaine.

Brix has not been trained to detect marijuana. Brix was purchased for $8,950 from Connecticut Canine Services with money from forfeited funds (money seized from criminal proceeds). No Secaucus tax dollars were used in his purchase.

The Secaucus Police Department still uses Oakley, the therapy dog privately owned by one of its officers, which he takes to fairs, street parades and to comfort seniors and children.