Bossier City K-9 Bronco Passes Away

Officer Justin Dunn and Bronco

Bossier City K-9 Bronco passed away Sunday. He will be laid to rest on the grounds of the Shreveport Police Academy where he trained every week.

I found a link to an old report from 2008 about Bronco and his handler, Officer Justin Dunn. I thought it might be interesting to share it.

• At approximately 10:30 p.m. Thursday, K-9 officer Justin Dunn and his dog Bronco were at the intersection of Benton Road and Broadway Drive when officer Dunn saw a Jeep Cherokee squealing its tires and fishtail as it turned from Benton Road onto Northside Drive. As officer Dunn drove down Northside Drive in an attempt to initiate a traffic stop, the SUV turned around in a driveway, squealed its tires again and came toward the officer's cruiser. Officer Dunn stopped, got out of his cruiser and tried to stop the SUV but the driver accelerated toward him forcing officer Dunn to jump out of the way. Officer Dunn pursued the SUV through the neighborhood where it went through a yard and ran a stop sign before it heading north onto Benton Road. The SUV then pulled into the parking lot of the North Pointe Apartment complex in the 2600 block of Benton Road and in doing so hit a curb causing a tire to blow out. Once in the parking lot, the driver, later identified as 21-year old Rodney M. Whiteside, Jr. of Bossier City, got out of the SUV and ran away on foot as other officers arrived to assist. Officer Dunn gave several commands for Whiteside to stop or his dog would be deployed. Whiteside refused to stop at which time Bronco was sent and subsequently caught Whiteside. During the confrontation Whiteside kicked Bronco. Bronco was not seriously injured. Whiteside was taken into custody and transported to LSU Hospital in Shreveport where he was treated for two dog bites.  Whiteside was later booked into the Bossier City Jail on charges of aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce, reckless operation, aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting an officer. He was also charged with remaining after being forbidden since officers learned he had been previously banned from the North Point Apartment complex.

This was one of many incidents in which Bronco faithfully did his duty, despite the kicks and fighting he had to deal with.
Bronco, you won’t be kicked any more. Rest in Peace.

A Police Dogs Prayer

Oh almighty God,

whose great power and eternal

wisdom embraces the universe,

watch over my handler while I sleep.

Protect my handler from harm

while I am unable to do so.

I pray, help keep our streets and homes

safe while my handler and I rest.

I ask for your loving care because

my handler's duty is dangerous.

Grant my handler your unending strength

and courage in our daily assignments.

Dear God,

protect my brave handler,

grant your almighty protection,

unite my handler safely with the family

after the tour of duty has ended.

I ask nothing for myself.

Amen.

Author Unknown