Police K-9 Dog, Rocky, Thrown From Car, Killed In Pursuit

RIVERHEAD, NY — A tragedy unfolded in the early morning hours Sunday in Riverhead, when a beloved K-9 dog, Rocky, was thrown from a police car and killed during a pursuit, officials said.

Hearts were broken at the news across the East End and beyond as the community mourned a beloved dog who spent his life dedicated to public service.

According to Riverhead Town Police, the incident took place at 2:30 a.m. when at a DWI checkpoint on Peconic Avenue a dark-colored Audi sedan was directed to stop.

An officer on the scene began to interview the driver, who disregarded commands to stop the vehicle and instead drove off, striking the officer, police said.

Next, several Riverhead Police vehicles engaged in a pursuit until stopping in Manorville when it was deemed to be too dangerous to continue, police said.

A Riverhead Police K-9 unit had initially responded to the area to help police in the pursuit when he lost control of his vehicle on West Main Street, west of Raynor Avenue; the police K-9 vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole on the south side of West Main Street, causing Rocky to be ejected from the car.

The police car, which sustained heavy damage, then ended up in a wooded are on the south side of the roadway, police said.

Rocky, who has served the Riverhead Police Department since May 2011, was killed, police said.

Both the officer initially struck by the fleeing vehicle and the K-9 handler involved in the crash were treated at the scene by members of the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps. and transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, police said.

No arrests have been made.

Patch photo courtesy Riverhead Police Department.