Death Classification: Canine / Equine Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: Length of Service Unknown

Unit of Assignment / Detail: Bureau of Operational Services - Patrol Division, Special Operations Group: Unit 058 - Canine Unit

District of Incident (Present Day): 003 - Grand Crossing

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 9

Timeline


Date of Birth:

Date of Appointment:

Date of Incident: 03 Dec 1970

End of Watch: 03 Dec 1970

Date of Interment:

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Not Interred - Other
 Grave Location: Does Not Apply
 Interment Disposition: Cremated

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Not Enshrined

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Not Listed

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed

Officer Down Memorial Page: Not Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: Did Not Serve

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Police Canine KIRK, aged 9 years, was a veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Bureau of Operational Services – Patrol Division, Special Operations Group: Unit 058 – Canine Unit.

On December 3, 1970, K-9 KIRK and his hander, Patrolman Gerald Burke were on patrol looking for Horace Ruth, 23, who had just robbed a Southside diner. While touring the area, Officer Burke heard a noise and unleashed K-9 KIRK. K-9 KIRK then apprehended Ruth after a rooftop chase in a vacant lot located at 7402 South Dorchester Avenue. When K-9 KIRK caught Ruth he grabbed a hold of Ruth’s upper right leg. It was at this time that Ruth shot K-9 KIRK through the throat. K-9 Kirk screeched in pain and went limp bleeding profusely from his neck. By the time Officer Burke caught up to his partner, he was found lying beside Ruth in the vacant lot. Ruth was also shot in the vacant lot by responding officers and succumbed to his wounds. Ruth’s weapon was not recovered at the scene, however it was believed that Ruth threw the weapon away before he was shot.

Police Canine KIRK was born in 1961.

K-9 KIRK was survived by his handler, Patrolman Gerald Burke.