Originally published October 13th, 2022 7:42 a.m.
Updated October 13th, 2022 6:29 p.m.
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(KNSI) — The Big Lake Police Department says one of its K9 officers has died.
A post on the department’s Facebook page says K9 Bruno passed away Wednesday night, adding he was “an instrumental piece to this police department and to the community of Big Lake. We will forever miss him!”
A letter from the Chief of Police John Kaczmarek says Bruno’s cause of death was an unforseen medical emergency while off duty. He was brought to an emergency veterinarian who “provided excellent care and medical services for him.”
The post thanked the community of Big Lake for the “overwhelming support over the course of Bruno’s life.”
The department began raising money for its canine program in September 2016 and had raised more than its $51,250 goal within three months. The German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix came to Big Lake from the Slovak Republic in November 2016. He and his human partner Officer Guy Chaffee graduated from Detector Dog Training in July 2019. The name Bruno is a Germanic word meaning “shield or armor.”
K9 Bruno is survived by Chaffee and his family and the 16 men and women of the Big Lake Police Department.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office says K9 Bruno was also known to train with BCSO K9 Ragnar, so the loss “hits close to home.”
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