The Houston Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its K9 officers.
Officer Rony was injured overnight while going after a suspect.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo told ABC13 it all started when officers tried to pull over a stolen car around 1 a.m.
That led to a chase where police say the suspect threw what police think was a gun or drugs out of the window.
Our hearts are broken over the loss of K9 Rony. He will be remembered for his bravery and dedication to his handler, our department, and the citizens of Houston. RIP Rony. https://t.co/kKoZLmxzsh
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) February 21, 2018
We’re also told that the suspect rammed an officer’s car during the chase, which ended in the 12700 block of River Trail in northeast Houston.
Rony spotted the suspect and went after him in a heavily wooded area.
Acevedo said that’s when Rony seriously injured his leg after he got stuck on a log or some other type of wooden object.
The police chief also said Rony has had multiple injuries over the years and this one was too significant, causing them to put the dog down.
K-9 Rony sadly lost his life after he was injured in the line of duty this morning. He broke his leg while chasing a suspect. The vet said based on past injuries and the difficulty to heal from this, the choice was made to put him to rest @abc13houston pic.twitter.com/IrxTbH4HwG
— Marla Carter (@MarlaABC13) February 21, 2018
The chase suspect was taken into custody.
Rony was a Belgian Malinois.
He had been with the Houston Police Department seven years and made 250 captures.
Rest easy Rony, you will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/vcYtI0RVxJ
— K9 T-Rex (@K9TRex) February 21, 2018
His handler said Rony went out the way he would have wanted to — capturing a suspect in the line of duty.
As news of Rony’s death spread, other law enforcement agencies shared their condolences with the HPD on social media.
We’re sorry to hear of the loss of this K9 Officer @houstonpolice https://t.co/klSy9AyrkJ
— FBCSO Texas (@FBCSO) February 21, 2018
