San Joaquin County Sheriff K9 Killed in the Line of Duty

A San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office K9 was killed in the line of duty while responding to a call in the City of Tracy regarding a burglary suspect.

K9 Duke was killed trying to apprehend the suspect who stabbed K9 Duke.

Released via social media by the San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office:

Our hearts are heavy as we share that one of our own, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s K9, Duke, was killed in the line of duty while apprehending a burglary suspect. The suspect is in custody. In order to protect an ongoing and active investigation, more details will be shared when possible.

It is unfortunate that during this difficult time we must also bring up proposed Assembly Bill 742. If passed, this AB742 would prohibit the use of an unleashed police canine by law enforcement for apprehension purposes.

Without the courageous actions of K9 Duke and the ability to deploy on a barricaded suspect who was given the ability to surrender, it could have easily been the life of a deputy that was lost today. We wish it wasn’t a life taken at all.

“Never. We never lose our loved ones. They accompany us; they don’t disappear from our lives. We are merely in different rooms.”

⁃ Paulo Coelho

Check back for more details.

UPDATE Via Tracy Police

On February 19, 2023, Officers from the Tracy Police Department (TPD) witnessed a burglary in progress in the area of Brichetto Road and South Banta Road. Two subjects were removing items from a locomotive belonging to Union Pacific Railroad. As the initial officer approached, one subject fled on foot, and the other, later identified as Rafael Montoya-Velazquez (30-year-old male from Salinas), hunkered down inside another nearby locomotive.

The officers immediately established a containment perimeter around the locomotive in which they believed Montoya-Velazquez was hiding, with the assistance of officers from the California Highway Patrol. Officers used the public address system from a patrol car in an effort to convince Montoya-Velazquez to surrender peacefully; the announcements were given in both Spanish and English. When Montoya-Velazquez failed to respond, a drone (unmanned aerial vehicle) was deployed, but the operator could not see where Montoya-Velazquez was hiding.

The Tracy Police Department requested the assistance of a K9 team from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO). When the deputy and his K9 (Duke) arrived, he was briefed on the situation. After several K9 announcements were met with no response from inside the locomotive, Duke was sent by his handler to search for Montoya-Velazquez.

The K9 deputy (SJSO) and officers from TPD entered the locomotive behind Duke. They located Montoya-Velazquez in a compartment in the front area of the locomotive. Once the door was opened, Duke was deployed to contact Montoya-Velazquez. Although initial indications were that Duke had engaged Montoya-Velazquez, Duke soon began to yelp as if he was injured.

The SJSO deputy was able to reopen the door and deploy his TASER and take Montoya-Velazquez into custody. They immediately learned Duke had been stabbed multiple times. While TPD officers managed Montoya-Velazquez, the SJSO deputy transported Duke to a nearby veterinary emergency department. After valiant efforts by the emergency staff, Duke succumbed to his injuries.

Montoya-Velazquez was found to be in possession of a large folding knife that was used in the assault against Duke. Montoya-Velazquez was booked and remains in custody ($290,000 bail) on the following charges:

• Felony- PC 600(a)- Willfully harm a police dog with serious injury
• Felony- PC 459- Burglary
• Felony- PC 594(b)(1)- Vandalism ($400 or more)
• Misdemeanor- PC 148(a)(1)- Obstruct/Resist Public Officer
• Misdemeanor- PC 466- Possession of burglary tools
• Misdemeanor- PC 369i(a)- Trespass on railroad property

We are grateful for the response of our partners from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol for their assistance in this incident