GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Grand Rapids police dog was seriously hurt in an early Friday morning crash in Grand Rapids.

Around 3 a.m., an officer with the Grand Rapids Police Department and a police dog were heading to a reported breaking and entering in progress with lights and sirens on. At the intersection of Madison Avenue SE and Hall Street SE, the cruiser was hit by an SUV estimated to have been going at least 75 mph.

GRPD said the officer was pinned in the cruiser and had to be freed by firefighters. He was not hurt.

The door to the back seat was forced open in the crash and police dog Dozer got out of the car, Chief Eric Winstrom said during a Friday afternoon news conference.

In the dashcam video and bodycam video released by GRPD, the handler can be heard calling for Dozer to get back in the cruiser. Dozer was unable to follow the command because his back legs were injured.

The handler of Grand Rapids police dog Bosco, that died in July, took 4-year-old Dozer from the crash scene to the Plainfield Animal Hospital. Dozer was later transferred to the Farmington Hills Animal Hospital, where he was being evaluated by neurological specialists. His condition was not released Friday afternoon.

Grand Rapids Police Department K-9 Dozer and his handler. (Courtesy GRPD)
Grand Rapids Police Department K-9 Dozer and his handler. (Courtesy GRPD)

Winstrom said that K-9 officers throughout the county showed up at the animal hospital to show support.

All five people inside the SUV that hit the cruiser, two males and three females, took off from the scene. Winstrom said officers are still trying to identify them.

The vehicle they used to get away from the scene is described as a silver 2010 to 2014 Nissan Altima that is missing the front bumper and license plate.

“If you know anything about this crash or those involved, please contact GRPD or Silent Observer,” Winstrom said in a press release. “We need your help. We all want and deserve safe streets and this kind of reckless behavior is a danger to us all.”

A still image from dashcam video shows a Nissan Altima that suspects fled in after a crash that injured a police dog on Aug. 4, 2023.
A still image from dashcam video shows a Nissan Altima that suspects fled in after a crash that injured a police dog on Aug. 4, 2023.

The GRPD Traffic Unit can be reached at 616.456.3771 or 616.456.4282. Silent Observer can be reached at 616.774.2345.

Winstrom said Dozer and his handler were involved in an officer-involved shooting in June 2022 on Prospect Avenue SE. A car stopped near the pair’s cruiser and someone inside opened fire on the officer, prompting the officer to fire one shot in return. No one was hit by any bullets and no one was hurt.

Dozer joined GRPD’s K-9 Unit in November 2020 when he was 18 months old.

Winstrom said GRPD has eight dogs.