Some Toronto police officers were in tears after a
service dog, Bingo, was shot and killed by a
gunman who was on the run from the law.
Police are mourning the death of Bingo, who was
two. The canine was shot by a 44-year-old suspect,
who was sought for murder, around 8:40 p.m. on
July 25 near Dixon Road and Kipling Avenue.
The gunman had fled one home and was hiding in
the darkened backyard of another when found by
Bingo, police said. He was shot by police.

Police are rallying around Bingo’s partner, Sgt.
Brandon Smith, who was also at great risk in this
incident. Smith has 25 years of policing with both
12 and 31 Divisions in Toronto.
Hundreds of saddened officers formed a procession
on July 27 as Bingo was laid to rest.
Officers were called to investigate a person known
to have a gun when the incident occurred.
The suspect was taken to hospital and is in serious
condition. The province’s Special Investigation’s
Unit (SIU) is investigating the case as was a
police-involved
shooting.

“Bingo, one ofour K9s, was
killed in the lineof duty by gunfire tonight,”
Chief Myron Demkiw tweeted. “Thank
you for keeping our members safe and
thank you for your service. My deepest
condolences to his partner and to all of our
TPSK9 unit.”
The Toronto Police Dog Services, which
was formed in 1989, consists of 21 handlers
and 31 dogs.
Many teams are comprised of one
handler and one general purpose dog, but many
handlers also have a second police dog specializing in search and rescue
or detection of narcotics, firearms, explosives or
cadavers.
Every handler is responsible for the care and
maintenance of their canine partner. The dogs also
take part in arrests of persons trying to evade
police as well other crucial pieces of evidence
leading to criminal charges and arrests.
”Well done Sgt.. Smith and PSD Bingo. Thank you
for your service,” Ernie Dolly wrote. Bingo was
the first police dog murdered in the force‘s almost
200-year history. The service was established in
1834.