Plymouth officer forced to fatally shoot K-9 partner that turned on him

PLYMOUTH, Mass. (WPRI) —A Plymouth officer had no choice but to shoot and kill his K-9 partner Tuesday after the dog began attacking him.

Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri said Officer Keith Larson and his dog Nico were in a shopping plaza parking lot preparing to search for a suspect when the dog began biting him.

Botieri said Larson was unable to get Nico under control and had no choice but to shoot him. Nico was pronounced dead at the scene.

“It happened in less than 30-45 seconds, which is a long time that he had to go through that,” Botieri said. “I’m sure you realize it is difficult to for a K-9 officer to dispatch their own dog like that.”

Larson, a 17-year veteran of the force, was transported to the hospital with injuries to his arms and hands but is expected to be OK.

“It’s always difficult to see any of your officers get injured,” Botieri said. “We feel badly about that.”