K9 Dakota

K-9 Dakota, a German Shepherd with a nose for criminals since he was 2, logged more than 200 arrests during the nearly seven years he worked for the Puyallup Police Department in Puyallup, Washington. Sunday night, he was hit and fatally injured by a car while he was chasing a burglary suspect in southern Pierce County. He was the first K-9 killed in the line of duty since 2001, when a sheriff's K-9 was hit by a car.

"Dakota's loss hits everyone where it hurts the most, in the heart," Chief Robin James said Monday. "His service to the community will not be soon forgotten." The K-9 officer who wore badge No. K923, was trained to apprehend suspects, search buildings and find evidence. In addition, his handler, Officer Don Bourbon, had taught him how to open the patrol car door with his mouth and climb inside.

K-9 Dakota and Officer Bourbon were working on Sunday when the Pierce County Sheriff's Office called for their help in finding a burglar who had stolen a truck. The owner was returning home shortly after 7:30 p.m. when he saw his truck coming toward him. The thief drove the truck around a barn and ran off according to police. K-9 Dakota was called in and quickly started to track the burglar.

He found a computer case with some of the victim's belongings and then led Officer Bourbon and a deputy through a cow pasture and over several fences. Officer Bourbon took the dog off his leash so he could weave through a patch of heavy brush. K-9 Dakota, who was wearing a strobe light, came out of the brush and was crossing a road when the car hit him.

K-9 Dakota was one of three trained K-9s in the Puyallup Police Department. A long-haired Shepherd, he was born September 18, 1997 in the Netherlands. The City purchased him from a British Columbian kennel in April 1999. He started work a short time later with Officer Dan Pashon and made his first arrest, a robbery suspect, in July 1999. In 2001, he became partners with Officer Bourbon. In addition to their work on the street, K-9 Dakota and Officer Bourbon visited schools and took part in the spring and fall fairs at the Puyallup fairgrounds.

"He was a huge crowd pleaser," police spokeswoman Lorri Ericson said. A memorial service was held with a large public turnout on Monday, February 13 at The Puyallup Church of the Nazarene.

Puyallup Police Department