Deputy Marshal Shoots K-9 Partner During Unfortunate Incident in Tombstone
TOMBSTONE, Ariz. – A deputy marshal from southern Arizona has been placed on medical leave following a tragic incident in which he shot and killed his K-9 partner during a nighttime shift. The event transpired on November 19 at the Tombstone Marshal’s Office when Deputy Marshal John Coby found himself under attack from his own dog, a K-9 named Hawk.
According to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), Coby was working with Hawk when the dog unexpectedly latched onto his leg and refused to release his grip. In a desperate attempt to escape the situation, Coby managed to barricade himself in a bathroom and partially close the door. Despite these efforts, Hawk continued to hold on, leading Coby to make the difficult decision to shoot the dog.
When fellow deputies arrived at the scene, they found Coby in the bathroom, with Hawk dead outside the door. Coby sustained serious injuries to his leg and ankle and was subsequently airlifted to a hospital in Tucson, where he has since been treated and released.
In a statement regarding the incident, Marshal Jim Adams expressed the department’s commitment to its K-9 program and handlers, assuring the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted by the Sheriff’s Office. “We value our K-9 program and handlers, and we are confident a thorough and objective evaluation of this unfortunate incident will be completed,” Adams stated.
As the investigation unfolds, Deputy Coby will remain on medical leave. The circumstances surrounding this incident underscore the complexities and challenges faced by law enforcement officers working with K-9 partners.
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