Police in Crossville in East Tennessee are planning a memorial service this week for a police dog killed in the line of duty Aug. 2.
The dog, named Cain, was allegedly stabbed multiple times in the chest by a man who had fled police and was hiding in the woods. Injured, Cain returned to his handler and was rushed to a veterinary medical center but died from his wounds.
“It is with saddened hearts that the City of Crossville Police Department announces the final End of Watch Call for a true hero and a three year law enforcement veteran,” said a police department press release posted on Facebook. “K9 Cain, your watch is over.”
Police will host a memorial visitation Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Crossville Police Department. A memorial service will be held at the Duer Soccer Complex on Thursday morning, but only first responders and the media are invited to attend because of concerns about the weather. There will be a funeral procession before the service for which the public is invited to line the streets. The procession will start at 11 a.m. and will travel on Main Street from Central Baptist Church to the soccer complex.
The incident Aug. 2 began when police early in the morning attempted to stop a stolen semi-truck traveling down a secluded dirt road. The semi-truck wrecked in the woods and the driver, the suspect, fled on foot. K9-Lt. Bart Riden and Cain gave chase, with Cain making contact with the suspect, 28-year-old Dustin Dixon of Crossville. That is when Dixon allegedly stabbed Cain.
