Draft:Neil Monaco & K9 Brandy: The Birth of FAA Canine

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Early life and service

Airman Monaco & MWD Emma at Eglin AFB, FL

Neil Monaco is a 1st generation Italian American born in Brooklyn, New York on August 4, 1940 to Vincent & Maria Monaco. In 1959 he graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in New York and enlisted in the USAF. Upon completion of Basic Training at Lackland AFB, TX he was assigned to Air Police School and then stationed in Kunsan A.F.B. South Korea, with the 5th Air Force, 354th Combat support Group. Later he returned to Lackland to attend USAF Sentry Dog School afterwhich he served as a Sentry Dog Handler and trainer for 3 years before leaving the Air Force in 1963.

NYPD Bomb Squad K9

Following his service Neil joined the NYPD and graduated the Police Academy in 1965. In 1971 Neil was called to the NYPD Bomb Squad with several other Police Officers with dog training abilities. These officers were being interviewed as part of the establishment of a new explosive detection K9 program. Andy Haufman, Dave Connolly and Neil Monaco were eventually selected for this Dog Program being offered through a Federal Grant to 10 different P.D.’s throughout the U.S. which also had a Bomb Squad. The NYPD explosive detection canine program was approved under Mayor John Lindsay as one of the 1st in the nation. The NYPD was selected to receive two dogs, Brandy, a German Shepherd and Sally, a black Labrador Retriever. These dogs were trained by a clinical psychologist, Dr. Ray Phillip, a graduate of University of Tennessee. Upon arrival in NY, the dogs were initially housed overnight on the rooftop of Macy’s on 34th Street while Kennels were being built on the 3rd floor Muster deck of the Police Academy.

Detective Monaco and K9 Brandy Las Vegas 1972

1972 TWA bomb threat response

On March 7, 1972 while the unit was training their dogs at JFK Airport utilizing several charted planes which were taken off line for service and cleaning, a Port Authority car with the Commanding officer drove up and asked for assistance. TWA had received an anonymous bomb threat directing them to a 25 cent rental locker that contained a note and 2 army duffle bags. The message warned that 4 TWA aircraft would be blown up at 6 hour intervals if money was not put in the bags and left in a remote location for pick up.

Neil Monaco and Brandy along with Andy Haufman and Sally, followed by lead trainer Dave Connolly, responded to the TWA plane which was parked in a remote area. Neil and Brandy were the 1st on the plane and started their search in the cockpit when Brandy responded on a black crew bag located between the two pilot seats. After this initial response Andy Haufman and Sally were brought on board and likewise responded on the same black bag. The Bomb Tech then carefully checked the satchel and discovered it contained a plastic Tupperware container which had a quantity of C-4, timer, battery and blasting cap. The device was removed from the aircraft and rendered safe prior to its planned detonation.

FAA Canine

The succesful actions of the NYPD K9 teams and Bomb Squad were conveyed to President Nixon. President Nixon impressed by the capabilities and accomplishments of the explosive detection dog teams ordered the Secretary of Transportation, John Volpe, to develop similar K9 programs to combat threats to the transportation system. The result was the establishment of the FAA Explosive Detection Canine Team Program as part of the US Air Force's 341st Training Squadron at Lackland AFB, Texas. By 1973 there were 40 FAA K9 teams at 20 different locations. Today, this program has become independent of the 341st but remains in partnership with them. Aditionally the program has evolved into the 5 part TSA K9 footprint consisting of the National Explosive Detection Canine Team Program (NEDCTP), the TSA Canine Training Center (CTC), TSA's Third-Party Canine - Cargo (3PK9-C) Program, the TSA Canine Capabilities Manager (CCM), and the Chemical Explosives Branch.

Post Service

For her accomplishments K9 Brandy was awarded the German Shepard Dog Club of America’s Medal of Honor in 1972. On Januar 12, 1982 Brandy passed away.

Neil went on and served a total of twelve years in the NYPD’s Bomb Squad serving as an explosives detection handler and bomb technician. He then served an additional 8 years as a Detective and canine instructor. During his 20 years of service with the NYPD Neil earned seven medals to include three in the grade of Exceptional Merit, awarded for valor with great risk to life. Two Meritorious medals for valor with some degree of danger. One Excellent Police Duty medal awarded for an exceptional act of Police Work and one Unit citation while assigned to the Bomb Squad.

Detective Monaco Retirement Plaque

9-11

In 1986 Neil took a job with Prudential Bache Security, doing Investigations and giving lessons in Corporate Security protection measures. In 1990 at the beginning of the Gulf Wars, he was recruited by American Express as a Senior Special Agent for Fraud and special Investigations and adjunct Corporate Security Protection Specialist. His office was house in the World Trade Center. After the fall of the Towers, he helped to safely evacuat people from the buildings and applied 1st aid until being directed to evacuate.

Marriage

Neil Monaco married his wife Agnes on May 14, 1966 in St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ridgewood Brooklyn. During their life she worked as a teacher in Lindhurst and then volunteered at an abortion alternative center for 14 years. In 1974 they adopted their daughter Danielle Monaco from Good Samaritan Hospital. Danielle later gave birth to Neil's two granddaughters Emma Rose and Sophia Grace.

References

1) Homeland Security Digital Library: Transportation Security Administration Fact Sheet https://www.hsdl.org/c/view?docid=460232

2) Federal Aviation Administration Chronology 1926-1996 Pg 164-165 https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/about/history/chronolog_history/b-chron.pdf

3) NY Times Headline March 8, 1972 https://www.nytimes.com/1972/03/08/archives/bomb-found-on-jet-here-after-2million-demand-bomb-found-on-twa.html

4) Transportation Security Administration: Mission Hall Pg 30 https://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/files/mission_hall_exhibit_final_508.pdf

5) NY Times April 30, 1972 article German Shepherd Clubs To Honor Bomb Finder https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/30/archives/german-shepherd-clubs-to-honor-bomb-finder.html

6) NY Daily News article March 8, 1972 "Pooches' Sweet Smell of Success" by Frank Faso

7) To Tell the Truth Episode 2661 May 1976

8) Canine Brandy Eulogy - NY Daily News, January 13, 1982