🐾💙 K9 LOKI SURVIVES MEDICAL EMERGENCY AFTER MULTI-AGENCY RESCUE EFFORT 💙🐾

📍 SOUTH TOMS RIVER / TOMS RIVER, NJ | September 3, 2026

A South Toms River Police K9 is home and expected to make a full recovery after suffering a serious medical emergency during a training exercise earlier this week, prompting an extraordinary multi-agency response to get him the specialized care he needed.

🐕 MEDICAL EMERGENCY DURING TRAINING

On Monday afternoon, Sgt. William Kosh, Jr. and K9 Loki were participating in a training exercise in South Toms River when Loki suddenly became seriously ill.

Loki was immediately transported to Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Toms River, where veterinary professionals began emergency treatment and worked to stabilize him.

As Loki’s condition developed, veterinarians determined that he needed a higher level of specialty care and emergency surgical intervention at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital.

🚁 K9 MEDEVAC ACTIVATED

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, South Toms River Police K9 Handler Dominick Palino contacted Toms River Police K9 Handler Christopher Inglis for assistance with the emergency transport.

The K9 Kona Medevac Protocol was subsequently activated through the New Jersey State Police, setting into motion a coordinated effort to rapidly transport Loki to Red Bank.

What followed was a remarkable collaboration involving law enforcement, EMS, fire departments, aviation personnel, dispatchers, K9 handlers and veterinary professionals.

🚑 MULTI-AGENCY RESPONSE

The South Toms River Police Department expressed its appreciation to everyone who played a role in getting Loki the care he needed, including:

🔹 New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center (ROIC) 🔹 New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau 🔹 JEMSTAR SouthSTAR Flight Team 🔹 Toms River Police Department Communications Division 🔹 Toms River Police EMS CSOs Brendan Halpin and Nick Vitagliano 🔹 Toms River Police K9 Handlers Anthony Carafa and Christopher Inglis 🔹 Silverton EMS 🔹 Silverton Fire Department 🔹 Robert Wood Johnson EMS 🔹 RWJBH medical and paramedic personnel 🔹 Garden State Veterinary Specialists 🔹 Red Bank Veterinary Hospital

The SouthSTAR flight crew — Pilot SFC William Munyon, SFC John Steet, Flight Nurse Ryan Paynter and Flight Paramedic Michelle Idler — also answered the call as part of the emergency transport effort.

🐾 LOKI IS HOME

After receiving emergency and specialty veterinary care, Loki has returned home to rest.

Officials say he is expected to make a full recovery. ❤️🐾

The incident also highlighted the purpose of the K9 Kona Medevac Program, which helps provide emergency transportation for working K9s when time and access to specialized care are critical.

For Sgt. Kosh, the emergency involving his partner was undoubtedly a frightening experience. Police K9s are more than working animals — they are trusted partners who serve alongside their handlers every day.

On Monday, an entire network of first responders and veterinary professionals came together with one goal:

Get Loki where he needed to be. 🐾💙

The South Toms River Police Department also thanked the many individuals who may not have been publicly identified but helped coordinate communications, resources, transportation and logistics behind the scenes.

🙏 Garden State News Network joins the South Toms River Police Department in thanking everyone who answered the call for Loki — and we’re sending our best wishes to this brave K9 as he continues his recovery.

📸 Photos courtesy of South Toms River Police Department

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