Celebrating Our K9 Officers During National Canine Month


April is National Canine Month, the perfect time to celebrate an important group of law enforcement officers, the K9 officers. Our country’s K9 officers are among the most loyal of partners. One such K9 officer, Dux, is a member of the Spotsylvania County (VA) Sheriff’s Office.
A purebred German Shepherd, Dux was born in Hungary. After training, he joined the Spotsylvania County (VA) Sheriff’s Office where he and his handler and partner, Sheriff’s Deputy Kory Kelley, are valued members of the department. In October 2016, Dux was injured when he was shot by a man fleeing a traffic stop.
Deputies pulled a car over for a traffic violation. The driver had several outstanding warrants and was taken into custody without incident, but the passenger fought with one of the sheriff’s deputies before running away from the scene.
As Dux and the deputies pursued the passenger, he pulled out a gun and fired several rounds. One bullet hit Dux. With Deputy Kelley by his side, Dux went to a veterinary hospital where he underwent surgery.
Dux made a full recovery. He returned to duty only about a month later and has had a great track record on the job. He helps sniff out drugs and has assisted in locating missing people. The German Shepherd is so popular, he has his own Facebook page with more than 3,000 followers.
The man who shot Dux was charged with two counts of attempted capital murder and felony assault on a law enforcement officer. He was sentenced to a total of 124 and a half years in prison, with all but 45 and a half years suspended.
A year after being injured, the Virginia General Assembly honored Dux for his “heroic actions to protect his fellow officers.” A copy of the resolution was given to Deputy Kelley as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration of the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers.
Dux and Deputy Kelley will be honored by the National Law Enforcement Museum as part of an impressive cast and sculpted figures installation, Being an Officer. The two partners will stand side-by-side in the Museum’s Being an Officer, much as they do on the job.