A police K-9 unit for the South Toms River Police Department was saved by medevac after falling ill during a training exercise on Monday. According to the New Jersey State Police, a routine training day on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, “turned into an emergency” when a K-9 unit, named Loki, suddenly became ill. Officials said the animal’s handlers, the state police’s aviation bureau, the Jemstar SouthStar flight team and the K-9 Kona Medevac Program worked quickly to evacuate the animal to a veterinary hospital for emergency care. As of Friday morning, state police officials said, the animal has returned home and is recovering from the ordeal with his handler and his family. Officials with the state police touted the K-9 Kona Medevac Program, which was launched following an incident in 2023 when a state police K-9 unit, named Kona, suffered a head injury and needed to be flown 85 miles to a veterinary hospital. During that trip, officials said, Kona recieved critical neurological care and has since made a full recovery. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less