A California City, California police dog who that was injured in the line of duty last month died Wednesday after complications of surgery.
K-9 Ty injured his back during the arrest of a barricaded suspect who was holding a woman and child hostage inside a home in Boron on Aug. 3.
Although Ty was able to quickly apprehend the suspect, allowing the woman and child to be taken out to safety, the dog injured its back when the suspect fell on him.
The K-9 underwent back surgery, but did not survive.
Ty's handler, Officer Vinny Rivera, posted this letter to Facebook after Ty's death:
Today, I had to say goodbye to my best friend and my partner. I'm sitting here wiping tears off my screen and off my face because of how unexpected this operation went, but I won't go into details.
I taught Ty so many things and watched him grow into the most amazing police dog anyone could ask for and he taught me some things as well.
Ty was the best kind of friend. The best kind of partner. I watched and felt all the pain leaving his body. I held him close letting him know he was a good boy, a big strong pup that could take on the world, and mans...my best friend. I watched his life leave him but I saw how relaxed and pain free he was.
I started thinking of all the things he's shown me, things like how to find drugs in hidden compartments, how to scale 6 foot walls, how to track down missing persons and give them a good lick to make sure they knew they were safe, how to catch a Kong in mid air, how to love unconditionally, how to be as honest, how to show respect but also keep your guard up, how to make sure that the bad guys don't get a leg up, how sprint as fast as you could through the house and not get caught by Demitri(the boxer). You showed me unconditional love and I returned the favor.
Til Valhalla, rest easy little brother. I'll miss you.
K9 Ty Vom Friedrichsfelder Eck
EOW 9-7-2016
