Kan. Police K-9 Stabbed During Robbery Call Returns to Work

Dagger, a Shawnee police K-9, spent nearly a month recovering after he was stabbed when officers tried to arrest a knife-wielding suspect barricaded inside a home.

By Caroline Zimmerman

Source The Kansas City Star

Sept. 8, 2025

2 min read

What to know

Shawnee police K-9 Dagger is back at work after he was stabbed during a robbery call in Kansas City, Kansas, in August.
The 26-year-old suspect allegedly stabbed the dog when officers entered a barricaded home before he eventually surrendered.
The suspect is charged with aggravated battery, interference with law enforcement and harming a police dog.

Shawnee, KS, Police Department K-9 Dagger.

A Shawnee police dog that was stabbed in Kansas City, Kansas, Aug. 5 is back to work after nearly a month of recovery.

Dagger, a K-9 police dog with the Shawnee Police Department, returned to full duty Tuesday after he was stabbed while responding to an aggravated robbery call on Aug. 5.

Officer T.J. Tomasic, a spokesperson for the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department, said Kansas City, Kansas, police officers responded to the 900 block of Riverview Avenue after receiving a call about a disturbance.

At the scene, a witness told officers a family member had returned to a residence after an assault with a knife earlier in the evening. When officers approached, the man barricaded himself in a home.

Dagger, with the Shawnee Police Department, was brought to the scene to assist. When officers went into the home to arrest the man, the K-9 was stabbed.

Edwin Perez, 26, eventually surrendered to law enforcement. He is charged with aggravated battery, interference with law enforcement and harming a police dog, according to Wyandotte County court records.

The Star’s Nathan Pilling contributed to this report.

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