Braintree's K9 Kitt And Billy Cushing Will Be Inducted Into Law Enforcement Hall Of Fame

BRAINTREE, MA — The Massachusetts law enforcement community will add two new members to its permanent history when a police K9 and his partner are inducted into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame.

The late K9 Kitt and officer Billy Cushing are two of the 2024 inductees, receiving the Fox + Hound K9 Foundation K9 Hero Award.

An inauguration dinner for the 2024 inductees will be held this spring in Fort Worth, TX, honoring those who received induction from a pool of people nominated from 39 states.

"Remembering Kitt with this distinguished recognition will keep his legacy alive as the foundation moves forward in his memory," said K9 Kitt Foundation officials. "We are eternally grateful for everyone’s help and support in fulfilling that mission."

Braintree unveiled a bronze statue of Kitt outside the Braintree Police Memorial in 2023.

"The Braintree Police is honored to hear that K9 Kitt and his partner Officer Billy Cushing will be inducted into the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame," police officials said on Wednesday.

Kitt was shot and killed when police responded to a domestic violence situation in June 2021. Officers Matthew Donaghue and William Cushing Jr. were injured with multiple gunshot wounds while responding to the Braintree Village apartments.

Authorities identified the suspect as Andrew Homen, 34, of Brockton. Homen was shot-and-killed after ambushing the officers in the woods, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office.

Cushing was Kitt's partner and is responsible for the creation of the K9 Kitt Foundation in June 2022. The foundation’s goal is to provide medical relief to injured K9s across the country, officials said. Funds raised by the foundation support K9 teams nationwide by assisting with equipment, training, and public awareness.