In Braintree, a community gathering will be held to support the police department after a K-9 officer was killed and two officers were wounded in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect.
The Shine Braintree Blue event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Town Hall.
WATD’s Christine James spoke with event organizer Sean Powers during the “Midday Report.”
Cards and well-wishes will be collected at the event and will be sent to the police station. Posters will be available for people to sign.
K-9 Kitt, a 12-year veteran of the department, was mortally wounded after police responded to a domestic violence incident on McCusker Drive on Friday. Two officers, veterans of six and 10 years with the department, were shot multiple times and required surgery. They are expected to survive their injuries.
Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey says 34-year-old Andrew Homen was identified as the suspect in the case. Police say he was waiting in a nearby wooded area to ambush responding officers. Homen was wounded in the exchange of gunfire and was pronounced dead at Milton Hospital.
Sean Powers, one of the organizers for the Shine Braintree Blue event, said this was a profound loss for the community.
“It’s an opportunity for folks to come to come together, they’ll be able to offer messages of support to the injured officers, as well as messages of condolences and thanks to our K-9 Kitt,” said Powers.
Donates will be accepted for the Braintree Police Officer’s Association support fund.
“The community can come out and say thanks for Kitt’s service and sacrifice, and to let the officers know that we’re all thinking about them and we’re all pulling for them,” said Powers.
More information about the event can be found here.
