A police dog saved a cop during a shootout in Dallas, according to Fox4 KDFW. Police Chief Eddie Garcia praised the K9 on Monday morning, crediting the pup’s “heroic” actions with saving an officer’s life.
Police dog saves cop
On Thursday night, Dallas Police responded to a situation in Pleasant Grove. In a home on Cypress Avenue, two family members confronted a 20-year-old man, Bryan Casillas, about his loud music. Then, Casillas shot them and fled.
Around 2 a.m. on Friday, police discovered a bloody shoe print that led to a trail of blood. Senior Corporal Scott Jay and his police K9 Figor began searching a wooded area for the suspect. In body camera footage released by the Dallas Police Department, Figor followed the suspect’s scent to a bridge near a creek.
Then gunfire rang out. Figor was shot in the chest. The K9 cried out, but continued to search for the suspect. Senior Corporal Jay was also hit by bullets, both in his ballistic vest and his leg. The cop returned fire and shot Casillas several times. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the aftermath of the violent shootout, Senior Corporal Jay’s top concern was his canine companion.
“My partner’s hit,” Jay said on the body cam footage when backup arrived. “Let me get my dog!”
Officers applied a tourniquet to Senior Corporal Jay’s wounds. He was transported to the hospital for treatment and was later released. Dallas Animal Emergency on Fitzhugh cared for Figor and later released him.
Police chief praises K9
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia held a news conference on Monday. He praised the way the police dog saved the cop’s life.
“God wasn’t ready for two warriors that night, and they did their duty in the face of evil,” Garcia said. “The work of this dog that night is nothing short of heroic. Our canines are invaluable members of this police department and helped save his partner’s life.”
Figor has been with the police department since April 2022. One Community USA donated him. Chief Garcia couldn’t say enough about the pup’s loyalty to his partner.
“Not only Senior Corporal Jay for bravely doing his job, searching for a dangerous suspect, but a K9 officer who took a bullet for his partner, and likely saved his life for working to detain a suspect while he was shot,” Garcia said.
Police dog and officer reunited
The police department shared an update on the heroic pair on social media.
“Thank you for the prayers and kind words for Senior Corporal Scott Jay and K9 Figor,” the post read. “The team was reunited this weekend. A special thanks to Dallas Animal Emergency for the immediate care for K9 Figor.”
Thank you for the prayers and kind words for Senior Corporal Scott Jay and K9 Figor. The team was reunited this weekend.
A special thanks to Dallas Animal Emergency for the immediate care for K9 Figor. pic.twitter.com/WZ3cEdBhhn— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) May 1, 2023
An investigation of the shooting is underway at the District Attorney’s Office. Sadly, the two family members shot by Casillas are still in the hospital; one is in critical condition.
