A police service dog (PSD) that responded to the BMO bank robbery in June 2022 has passed away from medical complications, Saanich Police announced Sunday.
PSD Hitch served with Saanich Police for about seven years, the detachment said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
A police spokesperson tells CHEK News Hitch was nine years old.
“Hitch loved every aspect of his job,” said Const. Ken Mead, the K9’s handler, in the post.
“He (Hitch) served since 2016 & responded to the BMO incident in 2022,” wrote police. “Hitch, thank you for protecting our community for so many years.”
Bank shootout rocked Saanich neighbourhood
On June 28, 2022, around 11 a.m., a police report led officers from Saanich Police, Victoria Police and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) to the BMO on Shelbourne Street after armed men entered the bank.
A gunfight between police and two suspects ensued, with the pair, twin brothers Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie from Duncan, eventually shot dead by police as six GVERT officers, three from Saanich Police and three from VicPD, were rushed to hospital suffering gunshot wounds.
No police officers or civilians were killed.
An RCMP investigation later revealed the brothers had actually been planning for an armed conflict since 2019, with the goal of killing as many police officers as possible.
We are sad to report PSD "Hitch" has passed away from medical complications. He served since 2016 & responded to the BMO incident in 2022. His partner, Cst. Mead said, "Hitch loved every aspect of his job". Hitch, thank you for protecting our community for so many years.@ICS_K9 pic.twitter.com/Fdlj6EP0hX
— Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice) November 5, 2023
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Ethan Morneau
