The police dog that accompanied a Connecticut state trooper who was killed in a hit-and-run accident last month is being retired and will live with his partner’s family.
Connecticut State Police Private First Class Aaron Pelletier worked with German shepherd K-9 Loso for nearly three years until he was killed May 30 during a routine traffic stop. According to the Hartford Courant.
“The CSP K9 Unit anticipates retiring K9 Loso in the near future and he will remain with the Pelletier family,” Connecticut State Police said. He said in a Facebook post On Thursday.
Pelletier, 44, was working overtime on a traffic enforcement mission when he pulled over a driver who was not wearing a seat belt on Interstate 84 in Southington at approximately 2:36 p.m.
While he was speaking with the driver, a pickup truck veered onto the right shoulder of the road, striking Pelletier, his patrol vehicle and a stopped vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Pelletier was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rosso was in Pelletier’s patrol car at the time of the accident but was not seriously injured.
According to the media, Pelletier and Rosso graduated from the Connecticut State Police Academy together in December 2021.
The driver of the pickup truck, Alex Oyola-Sanchez, was arrested a few towns away on Interstate 84 and charged with second-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs and several other charges.
Oyola-Sanchez’s defense team pleaded not guilty at a court hearing on Thursday and the trial was postponed until July 2.
In response to Pelletier’s death and to show support for the fallen officer, Wethersfield City Councilman Rich Bailey (R) proposed hanging a “Thin Blue Line” flag at City Hall.
The flag is traditionally flown in support of police officers.
The Wethersfield City Council, made up of six Democrats and three Republicans, rejected the request, arguing that the flag symbolizes division and racism to some people.
The city council had already voted to fly the LGBTQ flag in honor of Pride Month in June, and after rejecting the request, ordered the flag to be flown at half-staff along with the American and Connecticut state flags.
Pelletier’s wife hung a “Thin Blue Line” flag outside their home on Friday in memory of her late husband, The Washington Post reported.
Dominique Pelletier, 34, who has two sons with her husband, emotionally flew the flag at half-staff outside her home in Southington, a suburb of Hartford, despite having received threats over the symbolic gesture.
At the ceremony, his widow tearfully paid tribute to her husband, saying he was more than just a husband.
“You were my home. You were my heart. You were my safe place, my food. You were my best friend, my secret keeper, my favorite gossip,” Dominique said at the funeral last Wednesday.
“The light of our smiles will fade forever and it seems impossible to imagine a world without that laughter, but it is already a reality,” she said. “I promise you that we will keep you alive forever in our home, in our hearts and in the memories of our sons. We love you and we miss you.”
With post wire
