Related Articles
Died 9/19/15
Handler – Officer S. Lemmon
Police investigating death of police dog that went missing
Helios, Sunnyside’s beloved K-9 found dead Saturday, was shot to death, authorities said. On Tuesday September 22, 2015 Sunnyside Police K9 Helios was transported to the WSU Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab in Pullman, where a necropsy was conducted to determine his cause of death. The scientific examination revealed that Helios sustained a single penetrating gunshot wound to his chest. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding how Helios got out of his kennel and his subsequent death continues. Helios, who lived at the rural Grandview-area home of his handler Officer Skip Lemmon, got out of his kennel sometime Friday and was spotted by residents wandering around late Friday evening and early Saturday morning. Lemmon was out of town at the time and family members were caring for the dog. “That family loved this dog,” Christman said. Helios was found later Saturday dead in a vineyard. Though investigators have not determined a motive, it’s possible that an area resident or farmer was simply trying to protect people or property, Christman said. “Some farmers choose to do that,” he said. Private community donations funded the majority of Helios’ purchase in 2009 and most of the $6,000 it cost to feed, train and keep him, said City Manager Don Day.
