While police dogs often go out on duty with their partners with limited or no protective gear, they are the most fearless and determined members of the squad and continuously put themselves in harms way to protect their own.
While the Pennsylvania Port Authority police were in pursuit of a knife-wielding drunken man, they attempted to stun the man with a taser, but his thick work shirt blocked the shock. An officer then released Aren, the 5-year-old German Shepherd to stop the man, but he stabbed Aren multiple times before officers resorted to fatally shooting the suspect.
Unfortunately, police dog fatalities are so common since they typically don’t wear protective vests. In fact, Aren was the eighth police dog killed on duty this year with an average of two police dogs dying per week in January.
Not only was Aren an exceptional partner to Sgt. Brian O’Malley while on duty, but he was also an incredible family dog, which is why his passing has been especially hard for the police officer.“It’s a horrible thing,” said Port Authority police Chief Matt Porter. “He’s a member of that officer’s family and he’s a member of the law enforcement family.”
Outside the veterinarian clinic where Aren was declared dead, police officers held a vigil for their fallen brother, and covered him with a flag as they passed the other saluting officers.
Watch the entire video below to see the touching way the police are honoring their fallen four-legged brother.
Were you inspired by this police dog’s selflessness and bravery while protecting his partner? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
[Featured image credit: KDKA CBS]