Retired Grand Rapids Police Department K-9, Boris, Passes Away at Age 11

R.I.P., Boris.

The Grand Rapids Police Department announced that Boris, a retired K-9, passed away on Monday, June 13.

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When Boris joined the GRPD in April 2012, he was, at the time, the youngest K-9 to do so. GRPD bought Boris from Mid-Michigan Kennels in Eaton Rapids; the German Shepard was originally from Krzucz, Poland.

After seven years with the GRPD, Boris retired in April 2019. He lived out his remaining years with his human partner, Office Todd Wuis and his family.

According to GRPD, Boris was a nationally-certified patrol dog through the International Police Working Dog Association.

The pup earned an award from from the National Tactical Officers Association back in 2017. Boris had been sent into a home on More St. in which a suspect inside was believed to be deceased. He was not. Boris was shot at four times and survived.

GRPD shared in a Facebook post at the time:

The incident involved a barricaded suspect who had broken into a house and who made threats to harm officers throughout the event, if they made entry. The decision was made to insert K-9 Boris into the house. The suspect was lying in wait, firing rounds at the sounds of what he thought was the entry team entering the room. K-9 Boris was below the trajectory of the rounds and, thankfully, was not struck. K-9 Boris was recalled and not injured.

Office Wuis said of his K-9 partner and friend,

“I know people have very strong bonds with their pets, but when that pet was also your partner, it’s on a different level."

"Rest easy, good boy," the Department shared in a post to Facebook.