Literally hundreds of police officers and K-9 handlers from across Pennsylvania, along with family members and friends of the slain officer, as well as the general public turned out Thursday morning to pay tribute to the police dog whose actions officials say, in trying to subdue the violent man, saved the lives of two police officers.
The service which was held at the Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial on the North Shore started with a long procession of police cars with their lights flashing that began at the Port Authority Police Department on the East Busway and proceeded through Downtown, and then over to the memorial. Numerous police dogs could he heard barking in the background as the police cars passed by.
Numerous city streets were closed while the procession, which lasted close to an hour, made its way to the memorial.
As Fr. Joseph McCaffrey, a Chaplain with the North Hills Special Response Team was concluding his opening prayer, most of the police dogs in attendance started barking loudly— “I think they just said Amen,” McCaffrey said.
During the ceremony Officer Aren was awarded a Port Authority Police Medal of Honor which was presented to his handler and partner Sgt. Brian O’Malley.
Several K-9 handlers spoke about the life and service the five-year-old German Shepherd Dog provided the department, and the citizens of Allegheny County.
Police Officer Scott Palmer of the Indiana Township Police Department said referring to Sunday’s incident, ” He performed flawlessly, like he had done in training hundreds of times. K-9 Aren’s sacrifice allowed Brian and his fellow officers to go home unharmed, and for this we are forever grateful.”
Saying Aren was the “Tip of the Spear” on Sunday, Port Authority K-9 Officer Ronald Fukas added, “Aren, you set the standard, and that standard is high.”
The ceremony was concluded when Police Officer Mike Dorsch read “Guardians of the Night,” which is commonly referred to as the police dog or K-9 prayer. Many in attendance were seen visibly crying or wiping tears from their eyes as Dorsch was reading.
The prayer concludes with “If we should meet again on another street I will gladly take up your fight. I am a Police Working Dog and together We are guardians of the night.”
District Attorney Releases Video of the Encounter
Late Thursday Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala, Jr. released a video that captures some of the encounter police officers had with Bruce Kelley Jr.
Local media reports say that Zappala has not yet made a decision whether the shooting of Kelley, Jr. was justified, but he said a full investigation will be conducted.
According to reporting from CBS Affiliate KDKA,, Zappala said Kelley Jr. was shot 10 times by one officer and two times by another. Before the shooting Zappala said, the man was TASED six times and was sprayed twice with pepper spray.
Several hours after Sunday’s deadly encounter, officials reported that Kelley Jr. had been TASED twice.
Around 3:30 p.m. Sunday two Port Authority police officers approached Kelley Jr. and his father Bruce Kelley Sr. about drinking alcohol in a public park, police say. The encounter escalated into Officer Aren being stabbed to death, two police officers being cut by the knife Kelley Jr. had, and the shooting of Kelley, Jr. by police..
Brandi Fisher a spokeswoman with the Alliance for Police Accountability, a police watchdog, also questions how police handled the encounter with the two men. Fisher said that Kelley Jr. had a long history of mental illness.
The man also had an extensive criminal history.
“I want to know why that officer sent the dog on [Kelley Jr.] knowing he had a knife and was going to stab the dog,” Fisher said.
Fisher is seeking an end of the use of police K-9 dogs to subdue people. She also wants to know how police are trained to deal with mentally ill people they may encounter.
“What was Bruce Kelley Jr. doing at the time he was shot,” Fisher wants to know,claiming that police shot Kelley Jr. for stabbing a dog.
Under Pennsylvania law police officers are not permitted to use deadly force solely to protect the life of a police dog.
Fisher also said that Kelley Jr.’s aunt is upset with what Fisher claims his aunt referred to as “lavish” memorial service that Officer Aren received, while Kelley Jr.’s family is unable to afford to bury him.
According to court documents Bruce Kelley, Sr. is currently in jail in lieu of posting a $300,000 bond charged with aggravated assault, possession of a prohibited weapon — brass knuckles and several other charges stemming from Sunday’s incident.
