Shot apprehending suspect, Anderson K-9 to receive Medal of Valor

ANDERSON — Although all law enforcement officers face the unknown ever time they put on their uniforms and badge at the beginning of each shift, they always know it could be the last time they ever do so. But when Anderson PD K-9 Handler, Officer Finch released his furry canine partner “Chance” to apprehend a suspect fleeing from officers in a stolen vehicle last December, 2018, he never imagined it could have been the last time he and his faithful partner ever worked a shift together.

But when gunshots rang out within moments of Chance’s release off-lead during a foot chase that followed the end of the dangerous vehicle pursuit, Officer Finch feared the worst. As it turned out, Chance had just been shot in the ear. In spite of his injuries, the police service dog had the alleged suspect firmly by his teeth – even as the suspect continued to violently resist – repeatedly punching and kicking Chance in his head and upper body.

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Following the sounds of gunshots and a violent confrontation under the Anderson Creek Bridge, the K-9 Handler and other assisting officers soon found Chance and the suspect embroiled in what could only be described as a life or death struggle.

Undeterred despite being shot and brutally beaten, Chance “remained persistent and did not release his grasp,” According to Anderson PD. He continued doing the job he was trained to do, holding the suspect who had just shot him and was still beating him, until officers arrived.

With Chance’s help, officers quickly took the suspect, later identified as Dillion James Sullivan, age 25, of Chico, into custody. Although the man had sustained several dog-bite and other injuries, officers immediately turned their attention to Chance, and soon determined he had been shot in the ear and sustained other injuries from being beaten during the apprehension.

Officers rushed Chance to a nearby veterinary clinic, where he was treated for a “through and through” gunshot injury to his ear and other, unspecified injuries. The police service dog has since made a full recovery and returned to duty.

“Had it not been for K-9 Chance this situation would have most likely of resulted in the loss of human life,” Anderson PD later said of the incident.

At tonight’s Anderson City Council Meeting, K-9 Chance will be receiving the K-9 Medal of Valor “for his heroic displays of bravery” that early December morning.

SEE ORIGINAL STORY: UPDATE: Anderson PD K-9 shot while apprehending suspect

Officer Finch, who could not be prouder of Chance’s bravery, knows first hand what it is like to be shot in the line of duty. Finch himself, was recently awarded the Medal of Valor; after he was shot twice in the chest while attempting to arrest a suspect in another stolen vehicle case last March, 2018.

Officer Finch recently spoke at the International Association of Chief’s of Police Conference in Florida, discussing his and Chance’s shooting with law enforcement leaders from across the country, while stressing the importance of officers wearing their ballistic body armor.

Tonight’s award ceremony is open to the public and will be taking place at 6 p.m., at City Hall, 1887 Howard St., on the third floor in the City Council Chambers.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.