EDMONTON – Edmonton officers are mourning the loss of Quanto, a police dog who died Monday morning following a suspect pursuit.
Quanto was allegedly stabbed by a suspect in the parking lot of the RCMP K Division in central Edmonton.
“It’s a tragic day here at EPS,” says Scott Pattison, spokesperson with the Edmonton Police Service Communications (EPS). “I know both the handler and the dog myself. I was out training with that dog team earlier this year.”
Quanto was a five-year-old German Shepherd who was a Police Service Dog with the EPS for three years.
The call started at around 5:15 a.m., when officers responded to a suspected stolen vehicle in the area of 97 Street and 118 Avenue. There was a short pursuit that ended on 109 Street and 111 Avenue, where the suspect tried to escape on foot. Police say Quanto was deployed after the suspect was repeatedly told to stop.
Police say Quanto was stabbed several times by the suspect.
He was taken to a veterinarian, and passed away a short time later.
“There’s no question that had he not been deployed to apprehend this subject, who was highly motivated to get away, we most likely would have seen one of our own members hurt or killed,” says EPS Acting Staff Sgt. Troy Carriere. “He made the ultimate sacrifice and that was his job, and he did it well.”
The EPS says Quanto was responsible for more than 100 criminal arrests and was an ambassador for the service.
Edmonton police officers went on Twitter Monday morning, posting their thoughts:
Quanto’s handler was Constable Matt Williamson.
“They were best buds,” says Pattison.
EPS Police Chief Rod Knecht was part of a group helping to console Constable Williamson Monday morning.
He explained the relationship between police dogs and their handlers is extremely close.
“The dogs go home with the members and they’re part of their own families really,” explains Pattison. “These animals perform their jobs every single night on behalf of the citizens of this city with extreme courage.”
Twenty-seven-year-old, Paul Joseph Vukmanich is facing a number of charges, including criminal flight, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and cruelty to an animal.
However, police say Vukmanich can’t face additional charges for allegedly stabbing Quanto.
“As I understand, there is no charge in the criminal code when a dog dies in the line-of-duty – is killed by a suspect,” explained Pattison.
Vukmanich did not appear in court on Tuesday. His case has been put over to Tuesday, October 15.
The Edmonton Police Foundation is accepting donations on behalf of Quanto. Cash donations will go to the EPS Canine Unit.
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Cheques can be mailed to The Edmonton Police Foundation or dropped off at Police Headquarters.
The Edmonton Police Foundation
9620-103 A Avenue
Edmonton AB T5H 0H7
Police Headquarters
9620 – 103 A Avenue
Donations of toys and/or food for shelter dogs at the Edmonton Humane Society in Quanto’s memory can also be dropped off at the front counter at the Edmonton Humane Society at 13620-163 Street.
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