NEWARK—The Newark Field Office will pay homage to one of its unsung heroes and a critical crime fighter—K-9 Roxy, the office’s only Explosives Detection Canine. Roxy, a Belgian Malinois who turned nine in June, entered retirement with her handler, Special Agent Scott Nawrocki, on December 26, 2020. Due to Covid restrictions, her retirement ceremony was delayed.

“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, after graduating as the youngest cadet from the New Jersey State Police Canine Academy at one year old. Roxy comes from a family of crime fighting K-9s: her father, K9 Rik, worked for both the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service; her brother, Hoover, currently works for FBI-Newark out of Trenton; and her brother, Ace, currently works for FBI-New York.

“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 her handler and longtime companion Scott Nawrocki. “She wasn’t afraid of anything and, at just four weeks old, she was already bounding up and down the stairs.”

There are likely very few brother and sister as well as father and daughter K9 teams in the law enforcement community. K-9s Rik and Roxy secured the Macy’s fireworks event in Hudson County. Rik would handle the outside of the vehicle while Roxy would search the back of the truck or vehicle.

In the Fall of 2013, K9 Roxy and Special Agent (Retired) Nawrocki responded to the Garden State Plaza for the report of an active shooter. Backing up FBI NK SWAT and Special Agent Bomb Technicians, being carried over broken glass, she cleared multiple unattended bags as the teams moved through the mall.

In February of 2014, K9 Roxy worked to secure the MetLife Stadium for Super Bowl 48, a high-level national event. She worked long shifts and didn’t complain about the salt in the parking lots which irritated her feet.

In the Fall of 2016, K9 Roxy responded to Seaside Park, to support her field office and protect the forward command post area and search for secondary explosive devices after an improvised explosives device was located at a Marine Corps Charity 5K race. She stayed til the end and swept for any remnants after the Evidence Response Team finished its work. Days after included sweeping the area of the Elizabeth train station as another IED was located and was detonated during render safe procedures. K9 Roxy searched the vehicle of Ahmad Rahimi which was located in Perth Amboy. During the execution of a search of the apartment where Rahimi was believed to be located, K9 Roxy backed up the Hostage Rescue Team, NK SWAT and NK SABTs.

Even in her off hours, K9 Roxy reported for duty. In October 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, NJ.

K9 Roxy supported the protective details of three Attorneys General and two FBI Directors over the years.

Her reward for locating explosives was playing tug of war with her handler until he discovered that she preferred to shred the towels into many pieces. Roxy has participated in dozens of demonstrations for National Night Out events, FBI Citizen’s Academies, student groups, and FBI/NJ OHSP intern classes.

Twitter followers who want to thank Roxy or wish her well can do so by using #thankyouRoxy or #happyretirementK9Roxy.