It’s been a pretty tough few days for K-9 units in America.
Credo, a police dog, was shot and killed in an officer-involved shootout Tuesday in Long Beach, Calif., after officers attempted to apprehend an armed suspect who'd fled from police and locked himself in an apartment.
Local reports state that “The unidentified suspect was being sought by members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in connection with a December 2014 shooting involving multiple victims in Long Beach, according to a news release from the Long Beach Police Department.”
"As the suspect began to aggressively charge the officers, intermediate force options were deployed, including a 40mm rubber baton round and a police service dog attached to SWAT," the release stated.
The man pulled out a knife and continued to move toward the officers, according to police.
At that point, one of the officers "discharged his weapon to protect himself and the other officers." Both the suspect and Credo were struck by the gunfire, the release stated.
The suspect was transferred to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Credo was transported to a local animal hospital, where he passed away from his injuries.
The report stated Credo was a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who’d been with the police department for two years in the narcotics and patrol division, and had helped in 30 criminal apprehensions. The article added:
Several officers went to the hospital to wait for updates on Credo's condition and later lined the street outside the facility for a procession.
(Photo Credit: KTLA5)
This sad report comes just days after a K-9 unit working with border patrol agents died from heat stroke while trying to save illegal aliens who’d gotten lost after crossing the U.S. border unlawfully.