LAS VEGAS (AP) - Uniformed officers saluted a Las Vegas police dog for bravery and service Wednesday during a memorial marking his death by officers’ gunfire in a chaotic shootout with a gunman accused of killing two neighbors last week.
Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo was among those who praised Nicky, the 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, during a departmental ceremony at a Las Vegas pet cemetery where 64 other area police, military and government service animals have been buried in a “K-9 Heroes” section.
Nicky won acclaim twice in recent months - before and after he was fatally wounded when he was deployed March 31 to apprehend accused gunman James Craig Simpson in a northwest neighborhood.
Nicky returned just weeks ago to K-9 duty with handler Sgt. Eric Kerns after being seriously wounded Feb. 12 by a machete-wielding man barricaded in an apartment.
Police say Nicky bit Simpson and held on before being fatally wounded.
Kerns, a 24-year police veteran, said Wednesday he was grateful to have worked for three years with Nicky.
Simpson, 31, was left paralyzed by police gunfire. He remains hospitalized pending arraignment on multiple felony charges including murder, attempted murder, attempted kidnapping and weapon charges. His lawyer this week sought a court order to visit him in custody at University Medical Center.
The shooting was the fourth involving Las Vegas police in 2016.
Nicky was one of 37 Las Vegas police K-9 animals, and one of several to die since 2002.
Rudy, a 2½-year-old Belgian Malinois, was euthanized in April 2002 after he was paralyzed in a car crash on patrol with his handler, Officer John Jenkins.
Buddy, a German shepherd assigned to Jenkins for training, was shot dead in 2003 when a carjacker stole Jenkins’ sport utility vehicle with the muzzled dog in the front seat. Police said the carjacker shot himself dead.
Marco, 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, was shot and killed in 2012 by his handler after the dog became confused and bit another officer during a foot chase.
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