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HURRICANE — A police K-9 stabbed in the line of the duty by a home intruder in December and two Hurricane police officers were honored Thursday with the department's highest award.
Riko — a 5½-year-old Belgian malinois/German shepherd mix — and officers Eric DeMille and Jordan Bogenhagen were each presented with the Medal of Valor during a Hurricane City Council meeting.
"The Medal of Valor is the Hurricane Police Department's highest honor and is awarded to officers who distinguish themselves by conspicuous bravery or heroism above and beyond the normal demands of police service. To be awarded the Medal of Valor, an officer would have performed an act displaying extreme courage while consciously facing imminent peril," the department said in a prepared statement.
On Dec. 26, Jose Palacios Pascacio, 46, of Hurricane, whom police had been pursuing, walked into a residence at random where several people, including children, were inside.
"After officers entered the home, the suspect quickly made advances toward the officers, pulling out a large 6-inch knife," police stated.
When Pascacio refused to obey police commands, Riko was released to get him. As Riko moved in, he was stabbed several times including in the neck. After the stabbing, Pascacio continued to move toward DeMille and Bogenhagen and a Washington County sheriff's deputy, and was fatally shot. Police say a Hurricane officer and the sheriff's deputy were placed on standard paid administrative leave while the police shooting incident was investigated by the Washington County Critical Incident Task Force.
Riko was rushed to a veterinary clinic in St. George, where the decision was made to transport him to Las Vegas. After receiving several days of care from a vet clinic there, Riko was sent home to Utah to continue his recovery.
