Holly MatkinNorwich, CT – Norwich Police Department (NPD) K9 Ozzy died on June 4 after suffering a medical emergency.
The NPD announced the beloved K9’s death in a Facebook post on June 6.
“It is with a heavy heart that the Norwich Police Department announces the unexpected and sudden passing of K-9 Officer Ozzy,” the agency said. “On June 4th, 2022, Ozzy suffered a medical emergency and passed away in the arms of his partner and adoptive father, Officer First Class Ken Wright.”
His exact cause of death was not released.
K9 Ozzy joined the NPD in 2018 after he and his human partner, Officer Wright, completed their “intense and rigorous training” at the Connecticut State Police K9 Academy, the department said.
“Ozzy and Officer Wright quickly became known as one of the most talented and respected K-9 teams in the State of Connecticut,” the NPD noted.
K9 Ozzy was deployed more than 75 times during his career.
During an incident in 2021, the police K9 was repeatedly assaulted by a domestic violence suspect he’d tracked down.
“[He] never gave up,” the NPD said. “Because of Ozzy’s actions, a violent criminal was taken into custody.”
K9 Ozzy and Officer Wright were named as the State of Connecticut K9 Team of the Year in 2019 “for their amazing hard work and dedication to the job,” according to the police department.
The duo located multiple missing people, apprehended many suspects, and recovered weapons, narcotics, and various pieces of evidence during their years of service together.
“As many know, Ozzy was not just a Police Officer, he was a part of the family,” the NPD said. “Officer Wright and his fiancé Ashley loved Ozzy more than anything in the world and [he] was their best friend. Ozzy was a running partner, travel companion and was known as the best cuddler in the house.”
“Ozzy made the world a safer place and protected all of us every single day,” the department’s post read. “We will all miss hearing, ‘1040 and his partner are on the way.’ Ozzy, you will be missed. Rest easy buddy. 10-36.”
"Norwich Police Department announces the unexpected and sudden passing of K-9 Officer Ozzy. On June 4th, 2022, Ozzy suffered a medical emergency and passed away in the arms of his partner and adoptive father, Officer First Class Ken Wright." 💙https://t.co/40sa6mLwJs pic.twitter.com/5SNS4wTcV4
— CT POLICE LIVE 💙 (@CTPOLICELIVE) June 7, 2022
Norwich Police K9 Ozzy Dies In Arms Of Partner
😢RIP, Ozzy. "Made the world a safer place".
Condolences to Officer Wright and the Norwich PDhttps://t.co/dx94sTohmK#BackTheBlue #ThinBlueLine #dog #K9 #police #military #MWD #WaronDrugs pic.twitter.com/Nlj2qTinV8— On Patrol K9 (@OnPatrolK9) June 7, 2022
The officers and members of department would like to send its condolences to the Norwich police dept and family as k9 ozzy has passed away. our thoughts and prayers are with you and your care taker during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/m1j4QGv9EE
— taftvillefire (@taftvillefire) June 5, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Norwich Police Department and Officer Wright in the loss of K9 Ozzy.
Sandy Malone
