OCEAN COUNTY – The sheriff’s department has four more feet going on patrol.
Drago, a 14-month-old shepherd from Hungary, will be the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office newest bomb/explosive detection dog. He will be paired with Sheriff’s Officer Christine Casullo, who lost her previous K-9. Bear, very suddenly.
Drago, who is named after Ivan Drago from the Rocky movies, is currently taking part in the New Jersey State Police’s 14-week program to become a bomb/explosive detection dog.
“When the (nonprofit group) Remembering Brian Kanterman Inc. reached out to the Sheriff’s Office saying they would like to buy the department a new dog, we accepted the offer with great appreciation,” said Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy.
Remembering Brian Kanterman Inc. is in honor of a Virginia deputy sheriff who died on duty of a heart attack on Christmas Day, 2018, at just 25 years old. He was raised in Somerset, New Jersey.
“Our K-9s and their handlers are well trained and have been a benefit to the communities across the county,” Mastronardy said. “From helping to locate missing children to working crime scenes, the members of this unit are dedicated to serving this county.”
This brings the total count of dogs in the sheriff’s department staff to 13. They have six full-time K-9 handlers, and two part-time.
Officer Casullo has been a K-9 handler with the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office for 11 years. In addition to Drago, who is her third bomb dog, Casullo also has K-9 Fiona, who is her second bloodhound.
Stanley Kanterman, Brian’s father, serves as the president of the organization. He gifted Casullo with a ballistic medical kit for both her and the dog.
“Brian always set a great example of service even outside of his chosen career,” Kanterman said. “He was the guy who could be found helping elderly folks load groceries into the car, holding the hand of an unsteady person crossing a busy street, buying a cup of coffee for someone in military uniform (and thanking them) and volunteering at animal shelters.”
Remembering Brian Kanterman also pays for the training for people who want to become a police officer, firefighter, or EMT; awards scholarships; and assists veterans and first responders struggling with addiction.
Ocean County Commissioner Gary Quinn, liaison to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, said “I want to express the appreciation of the Board to this organization and thank them for their generous donation that is already part of Ocean County’s public safety family.”
The group provides K-9s, service dogs for veterans, and “go bags” for first responders. If you’re interested in contributing to this group, visit RememberingBrianK.com.
