| 7seven | 07-13-2011 05:30 PM |
2 local police dogs killed in 24hrs
Something that certainly doesn't happen too often, now back to back, Bo and Bear, 2 local police dogs killed in the line of duty within the last 24 hours :cry: :( Quote:
RCMP are describing the death of a two-year-old police dog in Richmond Tuesday as a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Bo and his handler were on Westminster Highway and No. 7 Road en route to a reported theft near Britannia Shipyards in Steveston at around 1:30 a.m. when the police vehicle crashed into another car.
The impact of the crash propelled the vehicle into the opposite lane and then into a hydro pole. The occupants of both vehicles escaped unscathed, but Bo, a German shepherd, died from its injuries.
“It’s a very sad day for us,” said Richmond RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Sherrdean Turley. “There are no words to describe how upsetting it is. We’ve lost a member of our family.”
Police dogs have been involved in worse crashes, said Turley, but Bo, who was in a cage in the back seat of the vehicle, was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
“It was a very unfortunate set of circumstances,” she said. “[The vehicle] hit the hydro pole exactly where Bo was seated.”
Staff-Sgt. Ron Field of the Lower Mainland Police Dog Services said police dogs and their handlers share a special bond.
“The handler is obviously upset,” said Field. “Bo was his first dog and he’s lost his partner. It’s a tough thing.”
Bo had been with the RCMP canine squad for eight months. He and his handler were trained at the RCMP’s Police Dog Service Training facility in Innisfail, Alta.
Turley said investigators are still trying to determine what caused the collision. At the time of the crash, the vehicle had its light and sirens on, said police.
The crash caused a power outage in some parts of East Richmond. Westminster Highway was closed between No. 6 and No. 8 Roads until early Tuesday afternoon.
Read more: Update: Police dog killed in crash that closes Westminster highway
| Quote:
A second police dog has died in the line of duty.
RCMP members are mourning the death of two-year-old police service dog Barry, nicknamed “Bear,” who died chasing a suspect in a home robbery in the 22000-block Lougheed Highway late Tuesday night.
The German shepherd was hot on the trail of the man when they crossed onto Lougheed, where the dog was struck by a westbound vehicle.
“We are all saddened with the tragic loss of one of our police service dogs,” said Cpl. Alanna Dunlop of Ridge Meadows RCMP.
“We have lost one of our own, and we owe this dedicated police dog our deepest respect and gratitude. He gave it his all, and sacrificed his life trying to do his job for what is right.”
Bear has been a member of the force since completing training in 2010.
His distraught handler is getting support, said Dunlop.
This is the second death of an on-duty police dog in Metro Vancouver in less than 24 hours.
Just after midnight Tuesday, another police dog, Bo, died after the police vehicle he was in collided with another car on Westminster Highway in Richmond and crashed into a pole.
Said Staff-Sgt. Ron Field, head of the RCMP Lower Mainland District Police Dog Services: “Losing two members of our team in two days is devastating. It’s not something one can prepare for.”
The 17-year-old suspect Bear was tracking was eventually arrested by another officer. Two other men involved in the robbery remain at large.
Police believe drugs were a factor in the home invasion.
Read more: Second Metro Vancouver police dog killed in line of duty in as many days
| | 