Toronto police say one of their K9 service dogs named Bingo was shot and killed while searching for a suspect with a gun on Tuesday night.
The suspect involved in the shooting was also shot by a Toronto police officer prompting the province’s Special Investigations Unit to investigate.
The SIU, known as Ontario’s police watchdog, said at 7:45 p.m. officers had gone to an apartment on Dixon Road in an attempt to “arrest the suspect for second-degree murder.”
The SIU said the 44-year-old man fled the address and shot at police officers. However, an SIU spokesperson said the officers did not shoot back.
Officers then found the suspect in the backyard of a residence on Kingsview Boulevard, near Dixon Road and Kipling Avenue, the SIU said.
“The man shot and killed a police service dog,” the SIU said.
An officer had also fired his gun and the man was struck. The suspect was taken to hospital with a serious injuries and remains in hospital, the SIU said late Wednesday morning.
The SIU is an independent agency that investigates the conduct of officers in incidents that have resulted in death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.
Toronto police chief Myron Demkiw confirmed to reporters at an unrelated press conference on Wednesday that the suspect is facing charges in connection with Monday night’s homicide at The Queensway and Kipling Avenue where a 24-year-old man was shot and killed.
Meanwhile, hours later at around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, several officers attended a vet clinic in downtown Toronto where Bingo was taken. Dozens of police cars were parked outside the clinic on Yonge Street.
Demkiw tweeted his condolences shortly after the incident.
“Bingo, one of our K9s, was killed in the line of duty by gunfire tonight,” Demkiw wrote. “Thank you for keeping our members safe and thank you for your service. My deepest condolences to his partner and to all of our Toronto Police K9 unit.”
Demkiw also told reporters at an unrelated press conference Wednesday that Bingo’s handler and partner is Sgt. Brandon Smith and said there is a “unique bond” between a handler and dog that starts at an early age.
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“They live with those dogs, they become part of their immediate family,” Demkiw said.
“In this case, Bingo was partnered with Sgt. Smith for a little over half a year,” he added.
The Toronto police flag at its headquarters was lowered to honour Bingo on Wednesday evening.
Bingo was a two-year-old German Shepherd who joined Police Dog Services in July 2022.
Bingo had completed extensive training with Smith graduating in December 2022 and successfully made a series of apprehensions during his time with the force.
Demkiw said police dogs are important because they provide an “additional resource to keep our communities safe.”
Supports and resources are being offered to Sgt. Smith and the police dog service unit as a whole.
“We’ve never planned a funeral like this,” he said. “We’ve never lost a dog.”
Demkiw said a plan is being put together to allow the force to grieve the loss of Bingo.
— With files from Global News’ Hannah Jackson
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