Salem County Sheriff's K9 Passes Away

SALEM COUNTY, N.J., (CBS) -- K-9 Ben, a member of the Salem County Sheriff's Office, has died.

"Words seem inadequate to express our feelings of grief by the men and women of Salem County Sheriff's Office in our loss of this amazing K-9 Officer," stated Sheriff Charles M. Miller in a news release.

Officials say K-9 Ben served with his partner, Sgt. Rob Hans, as an explosives detective specialist for 10 years.

Ben attended the New Jersey State Police K9 Academy and graduated in July, 2004.  Officials say he was a member of the Detect and Render Safe Task Force. Over the course of Ben's career, he worked various presidential details, the Miss America Pageant and the governor's conference.  He responded to over 900 bomb threats statewide, and hundreds of proactive sweeps and initiatives, according to officials.

In addition, officials say Ben has visited many schools, nursing homes, day care centers, churches and other community functions where he and his partner have provided educational demonstrations on bomb and explosive detection.

Ben retired on December 31, 2013.

In a news release, Sgt. Hans stated, in part, "It is with my deepest regrets that I announce the passing of my K-9 partner, Ben.  Ben has not only been a partner of mine for the past 10 years but has been a major part of my immediate family, where he was loved unconditionally."

K-9 Ben will be laid to rest on Wednesday.