Written by MLWA7 Staff
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake police K9 Chief, who was shot in the line of duty on Friday night, returned home Wednesday afternoon with a police escort and supporters gathered to welcome the hero back home.
K9 Chief and his handler, Moses Lake police Officer Nick Stewart, were discharged from the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Pullman on Wednesday morning and began their journey back home to Grant County — with other various law enforcement agencies.
The K9 and his handler received a well-deserved police escort from K9 handlers with several law enforcement agencies — Spokane, Spokane County, Pullman PD, Grant County Sheriff's Office and Moses Lake PD. The procession headed down Pioneer Way from I-90 to the Moses Lake Police Department headquarters with K9 and law enforcement supporters gathering alongside South Pioneer Way in Moses Lake.
K9 Chief had surgery on Tuesday night to remove his left eye that was destroyed when he was allegedly shot by a robbery suspect, who was shot and killed by K9 Chief’s handler, Officer Nick Stewart on Friday night. The surgery went well and there were no complications.
Moses Lake police have received a lot of questions about K9 Chief returning to duty and while he is making an amazing recovery, if he isn’t able to return as a Moses Lake police K9, he has a forever home with his handler.
“If he must be retired, rest assured that he will enjoy a cushy house job as a pet in Ofc. Stewart's home,” Moses Lake police said. “Every dollar spent on him, every minute spent training him was worth it for one 12 second event in which he saved his handler's life. He will have a retirement befitting a hero,” officials added.
The Moses Lake Police Department created a GoFundMe to cover K9 Chief’s medical costs on Tuesday night. The campaign has raised $20,000 of the $30,000 updated campaign goal as of press time. K9 Chief was insured at the time of the shooting but the insurance has a cap and does not cover air transportation costs, according to police.
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