Kylo, the Portland police dog killed during an attempt to arrest a homicide suspect last week was hit by police gunfire, authorities said Tuesday.
Police identified the suspect, who was also killed, as 39-year-old Eddie Brandon Todd Campbell, of Portland.
“We believe that Kylo’s actions saved lives that day,” Chief Bob Day said at a press conference, alongside Gresham police Chief Travis Gullberg and Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez, in downtown Portland. “As difficult as it is to hear and to recognize as an agency (how Kylo was killed), we are forever grateful for the role of our canines.”
On Sept. 24, just after 7 a.m., police in Gresham conducted a welfare check and found 60-year-old Jeff Thompson shot to death in a residence in the 17900 block of Southeast Market Street, Gullberg said.
Police determined that the suspect, identified as Campbell, had taken Thompson’s car from the scene, Gullberg said. Several hours later, the license plate was detected at a motel in Southeast Portland.
When officers attempted to arrest Campbell, he fled, police said.
Officials would not detail what happened next, but two Portland police officers and two officers from other agencies not yet identified fired their weapons, officials said. The Portland officers are on leave while the investigation is ongoing.
Day declined to answer whether Campbell also fired a weapon during the attempted arrest. It also wasn’t made clear during the press conference whether the police-fired gunshots that hit Kylo caused his death or if there were other factors. Nor was it stated which police agency fired the shot that struck the dog.
Police recovered a .22 caliber firearm at the scene, the same type of weapon used to kill Thompson, Gullberg said. Testing is underway to determine if it was the same gun, he said.
Kylo, who was about 9 years old, was on his last shift before his scheduled retirement. During his nearly seven years of service, the German Shepherd was responsible for 139 captures, said Lt. Kristi Butcher, who oversees the Portland police K-9 unit.
“He would also howl at the high pitch of the siren,” Butcher said. “Everyone thought that was great and very unique for a K-9. He was well loved within the unit.”
Police said body-worn camera footage will be released on Oct. 8, along with the names of the officers involved.
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