Police chief’s 3-year-old killed in dog attack involving former K-9

BURLINGTON, Colo. (KKTV/Gray News) – The 3-year-old daughter of a police chief in Colorado was killed in a dog attack involving a former K-9 officer, according to the Burlington Police Department.

Deputies with the Kit Carson County Sheriff’s Office were called to respond to reports of a child being attacked by a dog Monday.

When they arrived at the home, deputies said they found a mom and her daughter, who was unresponsive, in the backyard while the dog was secured in a kennel.

The little girl was taken to a hospital in the area, where she was pronounced dead.

Authorities said the dog was taken to the pound and euthanized.

Deputies say the dog was a German Shepherd who was previously a K-9 with the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said the dog was taken out of service due to the end of the department’s K-9 program.

According to deputies, the dog was not trained in bite work, and the dog was donated to the Burlington Police Department but was not in service.

They said Burlington Police Chief Nathan Hill was taking care of the dog in his home at the time of the attack.

The Burlington Police Department confirmed Chief Hill’s daughter was killed in the dog attack.

Police say the Kit Carson County Sheriff’s Office will be investigating, but added that this was a “tragic incident and not a criminal matter.”

The attack is under investigation.