Spanish Fork K-9 returns home after falling nearly 20 feet in training exercise
SPANISH FORK, Utah (KUTV) — A Spanish Fork Police Department K-9 is back home after a frightening training accident left him fighting for his life.
K9 Zero, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois shepherd mix trained in narcotics detection and apprehension, was seriously injured Wednesday night during a routine training exercise. For reasons still unknown, Zero jumped over a railing and fell nearly 20 feet, striking a fire truck and the ground below.
“For some unknown reason, he decided to jump over the railing,” said Lt. Cory Slaymaker with the Spanish Fork Police Department. “It was about 20 feet down, and he ended up hitting the fire truck and the ground.”
The incident happened during a training exercise that the department has conducted many times before.
“They’ve done this same training at this same building time and time again,” Slaymaker said. “What caused the dog to jump over that railing? We’ll never know.”
Zero suffered a collapsed lung, a fractured shoulder, and multiple cuts to his legs and mouth. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was life-flighted to Mountain West Veterinary Hospital in Bluffdale, where he remained overnight. He was released on Thursday afternoon.
The situation left officers deeply concerned, highlighting the strong bond between K-9s and their handlers.
“They are sworn. They are one of us, just like police officers,” Slaymaker said. “Handlers probably spend as much or more time with their K-9s than they do with their own families.”
K-9 Zero works closely with his handler, Officer Justin Miller, serving the department as a vital law enforcement resource.
“These dogs mean the world not only to our handlers but to our entire department,” Slaymaker added.
With Zero sidelined, Spanish Fork Police are temporarily down two K-9s — one due to a recent passing and Zero’s injury. The department is relying on neighboring agencies for assistance in the meantime.
Despite the incident, Slaymaker said the department does not plan to make changes to its training procedures.
Zero is expected to make a full recovery and could return to duty within the next 8 to 10 weeks.