In a tragic story out of Perris, California, a police dog was shot in the line of duty and later died.
According to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff, deputies were searching for a wanted felon in Mead Valley last week. A K9 named Rudy was helping them. Then, around 4:47 p.m., a concerned citizen reported seeing something suspicious. A man and woman were on their property near the 22200 block of River Road. When deputies arrived, they confirmed that the man was the felon in question. Therefore, they established a perimeter and called in Rudy to help with the search.
During the search, Rudy bravely led the deputies to the suspect’s hiding place, but the felon opened fire, hitting poor Rudy. Then, the Sheriff’s Aviation Unit spotted the felon and the woman running toward an occupied home.
As the deputies approached the suspects, the man pulled out his firearm again and pointed it at them. A deputy-involved shooting ensued, and authorities shot the suspect. Though deputies administered medical aid, the suspect died at the scene. Authorities detained the woman for questioning.
Unfortunately, Rudy’s injuries were severe. Although he was transferred to a local veterinary hospital for care, he passed away. There were no injuries among the deputies during the incident. No other suspects are at large.
Remembering Rudy
In a Facebook tribute to the courageous K9, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office wrote, “With great sorrow and a heavy heart, we announce the passing of K-9 Rudy. Rudy succumbed to injuries tonight sustained during the search for a wanted suspect.”
The post continued: “Just last month, Rudy and his handler Deputy Day received 1st place honors at the Las Vegas Metro Police K-9 Trials in the Handler Protection Category.”
Per department policy, the deputies involved in the incident are on administrative leave. An investigator from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the Riverside Sheriff’s Force Investigations Detail will lead the investigation of the incident. The investigation is active and ongoing.
We can only imagine how heartbroken Rudy’s coworkers must be over the loss of such a brave and loyal member of the police force.
Unfortunately, dog shootings like this are anything but rare. Another tragic example out of Idaho involves a dog fatally shot by an officer from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game while the pup was in pursuit of deer.
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