TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office is honoring the life and service of K9 Kane, a Belgian Malinois remembered as both a courageous partner and a community guardian. Kane, who joined the agency in 2012, served alongside Sheriff’s officers for more than a decade, earning widespread recognition for his bravery.
In 2018, Kane was deployed during a high-risk warrant in Mantoloking for a suspect wanted on kidnapping and assault charges. The suspect stabbed Kane while resisting arrest, but his actions helped protect officers from harm. He was rushed to Red Bank Veterinary Hospital and later made a full recovery. Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy’s office reportedly awarded Kane the Medal of Valor for his courage—believed to be the only time the honor was given to a K9 in the agency’s history, though official records are needed to confirm.
Kane went on to continue vital work tracking fugitives, locating missing persons and detecting narcotics. His service, officials said, left a lasting mark on the department and the community. “He was more than a partner—he was a hero,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a tribute.
