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Scotch Plains Police Mourn The Loss of K-9 Cux
The Scotch Plains police department paid tribute to Cux, the longtime co-worker and companion of retired K-9 Officer Aversa, who laid his retired partner to rest this past weekend. Cux was a fixture at community events, such as National Night Out, and demonstrations for schoolchildren and Scouts. Cux came to the Scotch Plains police through a grant from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, which supports police and fire departments throughout the U.S. with a particular emphasis on support for K-9 units and service dogs. The majority of the grants help K-9 units to purchase dogs and pay for training, safety vests, but other types of K-9 specific needs. “He (Roethlisberger) would buy police dogs in every city he played in each year,” Aversa said. “We applied for it and that year we were awarded the grant.” The dog came from Slovakia, learned commands in English, and became part of the police force. His career highlight was when he found two wanted people in a house hiding in a house near Portland and Martine Ave., not far from Park Middle School years ago. “There was a lockdown at the school. He went in through the window and Cux found one of them in the basement and the other one in attic behind the air conditioner,” Aversa recalled. “They both surrendered to him.” Cux was an integral part of the police department and will truly be missed. The Scotch Plains police disbanded its K-9 unit, and Cux spent his final years as Aversa’s companion dog. “He was so obedient, so eager to work. He was just an all around fun dog,” Aversa said. “When I retired, he hated being left at home. He would sit at the window and wait for me all day long staring outside the window waiting until I came home.”
