In Tacoma, Wash., Police K9 died early Thursday morning in the line of duty due to injuries suffered during the pursuit of an armed killer, who was also injured in the shootout, police said.
Ronja, a 2-year-old German shepherd, and her partner, Officer Jennifer Syler, responded after officers saw the suspect driving at approximately 1:20 p.m.
He fled until he collided with his car, then set off on foot. During the hunt, police said officers and the suspected guns exchanged.
Both the suspect and Ronja sustained injuries, and at least one officer suffered minor injuries, Seattle-based Q13 Fox reported. The K9 later died from her wounds.
WISCONSIN POLICE SHOOTING SUSPECT IN CATCH IN INDIANA TAKEN
The suspect is accused of being involved in a murder just hours before the shooting. He was taken to hospital in critical condition.
“She sacrificed herself to save the life of her partner and her fellow officers,” the Tacoma Police Department said. “Her death is heartbreaking for her handler, our department and all those people in the community who came to know her.”
The Pierce County Sheriff’s department, which helped train Ronja, also tweeted sympathy.
“She was a very special dog and had a remarkable bond with her partner,” the department wrote.
Ronja was bred in the Czech Republic, where her name means “Bringing Victory”. Tacoma police selected her for service because her “work ethic and perseverance stood out above the rest” from the breeder’s dogs, “authorities said.
She served for eight months at the Tacoma Police Department, where a number of suspected burglars were reported, and helped recover laptops stolen from a Boys & Girls Club.
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“For us, Ronja will forever bring courage,” the department said in a statement. “And for that we are eternally grateful.
