K9 Buddy

K-9 Buddy, a Bremerton Police dog on the force just three months, was shot and killed while trying to apprehend a suspect at Lions Playfield in East Bremerton early Monday morning.

Buddy’s handler, Officer Mike Davis, returned fire and critically wounded the man.

Responding to a report of gunshots in the park about 1:45 a.m., Bremerton Police officers saw two men hiding in the bushes near the boat launch at the north end of the park, according to Bremerton Police Detective Wendy Davis. The two men ran, and Officer Mike Davis with Buddy tried to arrest them near the playground.

One of the men shot Buddy in the head and then fired at least one shot toward Davis. Davis returned fire, hitting the man in the abdomen. The suspect was listed in critical condition at Harrison Memorial Hospital. The second suspect was arrested after a Kitsap County canine unit tracked him to an apartment about two blocks away.

Within a few hours, notes and calls of sympathy were pouring into Bremerton city hall. One unidentified woman dropped off a half-dozen red roses at the scene of the shooting with this note: “So sorry for the loss of K-9 Buddy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his handlers and his family.” Officer Matt Smalley, who accepted the flowers, said people can relate to losing an animal they feel close to.

“The public really understands about these dogs,” he said. “It’s hard when your pet dies. When it’s not only your pet, but your partner it makes it a loss worse.”

Wendy Davis said the two suspects were known to police. The semi-automatic pistol used to shoot the dog has been traced to a burglary in Port Orchard.