Injured deputy and K-9 officer return home after being shot during Tremonton shooting that killed two officers

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A Sheriff’s Office deputy and K-9 officer have returned home after being shot during a deadly shooting that took the lives of two police officers.

Shortly after two police officers were shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance in Tremonton Sunday evening, Deputy Mike Allred with the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office responded with his K-9 partner, Azula.

During the altercation, both Allred and Azula were shot and later taken to the hospital. Police announced that both had returned home in stable condition Tuesday.

“A K-9 handler is closer with their dog than anything else,” Art Lopez, a Sergeant with Utah Police Officers Standards and Training, said.

Sgt. Lopez could not speak to the events that transpired during the Tremonton shooting but did shed light on the important bond that exists between K-9 officers and their handlers.

“Honestly, they are our best friends, and they do take very good care of us and our communities,” Lopez told ABC4. He says that just like officers, K-9s often struggle after experiencing intense situations on the job.

“Some dogs are extremely tough and they’re able to bounce back,” he added. “I’ve seen other dogs that have… PTSD like humans do.”

“They’re part of our family,” Lopez said, adding that after retirement most officers take the dogs into full care. “We spend more time with our dogs than we do our family members.”

Lopez says he has worked with four dogs in his career. “I still cry for each one of them, and I’m proud to say that.”