Bingo, a Toronto K9 officer killed last week in the line of duty, has been honoured with a funeral procession in the city’s east end.

The two-year-old German shepherd was shot and killed while in pursuit of a suspect in the Kipling Ave. and Dixon Rd. area on July 25. He is the first K9 officer to ever be lost on the job, according to Toronto Police Services.

Superintendent Colin Greenaway, the Police Dog Services Unit Commander, says the dog’s death is a terrible loss.

“It was unnecessary and absolutely heartbreaking for the handler and the entire Service,” he says.

Bingo joined the city’s Police Dog Services in July 2022, where he underwent an intense training course with his handler, Sgt. Brandon Smith. The K9 graduated the program in December 2022.

“He was a high-drive energy dog who bonded well with his partner in the short time they were together,” says staff Sgt. Eric Hembruff. “He has had a few successes in his seven months and was very good at his job. He made the ultimate sacrifice, taking a bullet that might have been meant for one of our officers.”

Chief Myron Demkiw adds that canine members of the force are incredibly important in Toronto Police Services’ role to deliver community safety.

“They provide an additional resource to our members to help keep communities safe, whether it is tracking a suspect, apprehending violent suspects, or tracking and locating evidence, some of which is incredibly dangerous,” he says. “There are a multitude of reasons we have police dogs and multiple benefits that come from our Police Dog Services Unit.”

Under the Justice for Animals in Service Act (Quanto’s Law), a person “who, willfully and without lawful excuse, kills, maims, wounds, poisons, or injures a law enforcement animal while it is aiding a law enforcement officer in carrying out that officer’s duties” can face up to five years in prison.

The suspect accused of shooting Bingo was subsequently shot by police and transported to hospital. He is currently in police custody.

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