NEWARK, N.J. (WCBS 880) — An accomplished canine officer with the FBI Newark Field Office was honored Wednesday as she entered retirement with her handler.
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K9 Roxy and Special Agent Scott Nawrocki were regarded as “unsung heroes” by the FBI field office and were recognized during a special ceremony for their eight years of service together.
“K9 Roxy has been an indispensable member of the FBI team,” said Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch, Jr. “Her hard work and dedication have helped protect her fellow agents and the community at-large and have assisted in the apprehension of criminals. We are in her debt and wish her a healthy retirement with our gratitude.”
Roxy joined the FBI in June 2013 at just 1-year-old, after graduating as the youngest cadet from the New Jersey State Police Canine Academy.
The dedicated canine came from a family of crime fighting pups and has two brothers, Hoover and Ace, who still work for FBI-Newark in Trenton and FBI-New York, respectively.
“We knew Roxy would be a great working dog as she pushed her way in front of her brothers and sisters when it came time to eat,” said handler and longtime companion Nawrocki. “She wasn’t afraid of anything and, at just four weeks old, she was already bounding up and down the stairs.”
During her time on the force, Roxy was the field office’s only Explosives Detection Canine and helped secure multiple events, including Super Bowl 48, which was held at MetLife Stadium in February 2014.
“Even in her off hours, K9 Roxy reported for duty,” the FBI said in a release. “On Oct. 31, 2017, while trick or treating, dressed as a cheerleader, K9 Roxy was called to a Home Depot in Passaic where a homegrown violent extremist rented a pickup truck and subsequently drove the vehicle into a group of cyclists, runners and pedestrians. Later that night, K9 Roxy searched the home of the suspected Homegrown Violent Extremist in Paterson.”
According to officials, her reward for successfully locating explosives was a game of tug-of-war with her handler, until he discovered that she preferred to simply shred the towels used instead.
FBI-Newark is encouraging Roxy’s fans who wish to thank her for her service to post on social media using the hashtags: #thankyouRoxy or #happyretirementRoxy.
The office notes Roxy and Nawrocki retired from their positions on Dec. 26, 2020, but a ceremony honoring the two had been postponed due to the pandemic.
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