K9 Roll of Honor
K9 Hero
Copper
Clay County Sheriff's Office
— Clay Center, KS
Gunfire
Unknown Breed
Service Record
End of Watch
November 16, 1999
Weapon
Gun; Unknown type
K9 Profile
Breed
Unknown Breed
Cause
Gunfire
Agency
Department
Clay County Sheriff's Office
Location
Clay Center, KS
Incident
K9 Copper and Deputy Sheriff James Kenney were shot and killed as they assisted other officers arrest a jail escapee.
The suspect and two other inmates overpowered two corrections officers and escaped from a local jail. The two other inmates were arrested soon thereafter, however, the suspect escaped to his home. Deputy Kenney, and his canine Copper, went to the house to arrest him and was met with gunfire. Both he and Copper were shot and killed.
The suspect was then arrested by other officers and charged with premeditated first-degree murder and with inflicting death on a police dog.