K-9 CHIEF

Career Stats: During his brief but effective career, K-9 Cheif had 51 patrol deployments and 23 captures. Of those captures, 5 were bites to a suspect. K-9 Chief regularly trained with the regional SWAT team and deployed on numerous occasions with the team. Despite his short career, K-9 Chief showed excellent instincts and was involved in several high-profile apprehensions.

June 5th, 2018, K-9 Chief was involved in an operation with the U.S. Marshals and the ATF to apprehend a violent felon armed with multiple firearms. The suspect fled in a violent pursuit in which multiple cars were rammed in his attempt to get away. The suspect made it to his hometown of Warden, where family members actively blocked officers in the pursuit and attempted to facilitate his getaway. When the suspect fled on foot from his car, K-9 Chief was able to track and apprehend the suspect despite family member’s interference.

On July 27th, 2019, Chief’s Handler was attempting to stop a DUI when the driver bailed from the car and attempted to get into a residence. Chief’s Handler caught the suspect, but he and two other officers were immediately surrounded by angry partygoers, and a riot broke out. The officers were outnumbered and two were assaulted. K-9 Chief was able to be released remotely and locked in on a suspect who was assaulting an officer, biting him, and stopping his attack. With the presence of the K-9 force multiplier on scene, the crowd retreated, and the aggressors were arrested.

On December 12th, 2019, K-9 Chief responded to rural Grant County to assist the sheriff’s office in locating a subject who fled on foot after a vehicle pursuit. The suspect was known to police and had a history of assaults on law enforcement. There was snow on the ground and it was extremely foggy. The track went through farm fields and empty canals. The track lasted 1 hour 40 minutes and covered roughly six miles. Chief located money the suspect dropped numerous times. Chief performed the majority of the track off lead. Eventually, Chief located and bit the suspect laying on the ground trying to conceal himself.

On February 28th, 2020, K-9 Chief handled his final call. Moses Lake detectives located an extremely violent felon who had been involved in a series of robbery and torture incidents. A pursuit ensued, and Chief’s Handler worked his way to the lead in the pursuit shortly before the suspect’s vehicle was disabled. The suspect fled his vehicle on foot, and Chief was released. The suspect drew a pistol and fired at the handler as he and K-9 Chief closed on him, striking K-9 Chief in the left eye. His handler returned fire and expired the suspect during the incident.

K-9 Chief suffered the loss of his left eye and a broken jaw from the gunshot wound. Due to the extent of his injuries, Chief was forced to medically retire as a result of this incident at the age of three years old. Project K-9 Hero is honored to help this hero by ensuring he gets the medical care and treatment he deserves for a long and happy retirement with his handler. K-9 Chief’s story is a prime example of why our organization was founded and exists. Our nonprofit is covering all future medical bills, and his specialized food, at 100% for the rest of his life.