Video of the moment a police dog named Bruno leapt from a freeway overpass and received serious injuries has been released by authorities in Utah, as the animal continues to recover at home.
Bruno, a bomb-sniffing dog, suffered two broken legs and a fractured jaw in the September incident as he helped Utah state troopers investigate a suspicious package found abandoned on the roadside in Summit county.
The Park City police department this week released dash-cam footage of the moments before, during and after Bruno’s sudden leap on to a roadway beneath a ramp connecting I-۸۰ and US ۴۰.
The video ends with the two-year-old chocolate labrador being airlifted by helicopter to a veterinarian in Salt Lake City for an emergency operation.
One distressing scene shows Bruno being comforted on the ground by his handling officer, Wayne Henderson, after the dog tried to get back on his feet.
“As this video shows, this was an unfortunate incident that occurred during a serious law enforcement response,” Wade Carpenter, the Park City police chief, said in a statement, reported by the Park Record.
“Bruno is more than a police K-۹. He’s a partner, a companion, and part of our police family. From the moment he was injured, Officer Henderson and fellow first responders did everything they could to comfort Bruno and get him the care he needed.
“We’re grateful for the outpouring of support for Bruno and his handler as he continues to recover.”
The video includes the ۹۱۱ call, and other footage related to the emergency response to Bruno’s fall. The dog is seen racing after a ball thrown by Henderson towards the object, an action described in the video as a cue for Bruno to work, then veering across the carriageway and leaping over the concrete wall.
The package, called in as suspicious by a motorist, was found to be harmless road debris, specifically a battery believed to have fallen from a vehicle.
Carpenter said Bruno was continuing to recuperate from his injuries. It is not known if he will return to work. In a statement after his surgery, the police department said: “Bruno still has a long road ahead, but we are very happy to see him home and on his way to recovery.”
