State corrections department mourns loss of K-9 in fight Tuesday at Sussex prison

Bill Atkinson, Petersburg Progress-Index
·2 min read
5
Rivan, who was killed Tuesday, April 2, 2024, breaking up an inmate skirmish at Sussex I State Prison near Waverly, had been on the job since 2019, the Virginia Department of Corrections said.
Rivan, who was killed Tuesday, April 2, 2024, breaking up an inmate skirmish at Sussex I State Prison near Waverly, had been on the job since 2019, the Virginia Department of Corrections said.

WAVERLY – The Virginia Department of Corrections says one of its guard dogs was killed Tuesday afternoon during a skirmish at Sussex I State Prison.

K-9 Rivan, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, was beaten and stabbed to death by three inmates after he was ordered by his handler to stop them from attacking another inmate inside one of the prison’s housing units. A VADOC statement said crews tried to save his life but were unsuccessful, and the dog died at the scene.

After order was restored, four inmates were taken into custody – the three attackers and a fourth who officials said seemed to be supervising the incident. VADOC said the suspects were from El Salvador and Guatemala, and all affiliated with the MS-13 gang.

All four men were in the U.S. illegally when they were arrested and convicted on charges ranging from first-degree murder to child pornography.

The victim in the attack was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and then returned to Sussex I. It was not known if he had any gang affiliation.

An investigation into the attack is ongoing.

VADOC said it plans to "pursue prosecution of these inmates to the fullest extent of the law” against the four inmates.

“The loss of Rivan is truly tragic, but it is important to remember he did not die in vain.” VADOC director Chad Dotson said in a statement. “He lost his life while potentially saving the lives of two people, his assigned officer and an inmate. The VADOC will never forget Rivan’s sacrifice.”

Rivan joined VADOC in 2019 and was certified as a K-9 that July. VADOC said he came from a lineage “with a strong public safety tradition,” as his father worked for a police department in Southwest Virginia and his mother worked for the Secret Service.

VADOC is planning a memorial service for the dog. Details will be announced later.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: K-9 officer killed in inmate fight at Sussex prison