Celebration of life held in honor of K9 Bruce following unexpected passing
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Salt Lake City Police Department honored K9 Bruce — who unexpectedly passed away at three years old — with a celebration of life and end of watch service.
He was a police bloodhound who died on Sunday, March 17, from a medical condition that was previously unknown to his handler, family and the SLCPD.
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“Dogs today have become more closely intertwined with our human activity,” said Chief Mike Brown. “They are service animals, used for hunting, and, like K9 Bruce, they are frontline responders and play a critical role at keeping our city safe. K9 Bruce played a vital role in supporting public safety throughout Salt Lake County. His calm demeanor and friendly disposition meant he could interact with anyone compassionately and safely. As a police dog, K9 Bruce helped build community trust.”
An undated photo of Salt Lake City Police K9 Bruce. (Salt Lake City Police Department) An undated photo of Salt Lake City Police K9 Bruce as a puppy. (Salt Lake City Police Department)
The service was led by the Salt Lake City Police Department’s K9 squad, which is part of the Department’s Special Operations Division.
SLCPD command staff, sworn members, professional staff and members of the community attended the ceremony in remembrance of K9 Bruce.
Several people shared stories about him, including how he earned the nickname “Barbeque Bruce”, how much he loved Spam, and how each time he’d get a capture, his handler would leave a note for his family.
A photo of memorial decoration including a picture of K9 Bruce and his handler and K9 Bruce as a puppy (SLCPD photo – April 17, 2024). A photo of memorial decorations including a picture of K9 Bruce (SLCPD photo – April 17, 2024). A photo of the SLCPD K9 Squad’s sergeant talking about K9 Bruce (SLCPD photo – April 17, 2024).
K9 Bruce was born in Iowa in November 2020 and joined the SLCPD when he was eight weeks old. He lived with his handler and became a beloved member of the family.
During his service, K9 Bruce successfully found 31 people and often helped other jurisdictions with his handler. They were deployed for countless calls for service including searching for violent offenders, fugitives and missing persons.
K9 Bruce’s handler remains a part of the SLCPD’s K9 Squad. His new K9 is a 10-month-old bloodhound named Bruno that is currently undergoing training.
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