K9 Spike

K9 Spike, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois with the Burbank Police Department, was fatally shot on November 22, 2025, while tracking an armed suspect who had fled a traffic stop into a residential neighborhood. When Spike located the gunman, the suspect opened fire, fatally wounding the dog. A public memorial drew hundreds of officers and community members to Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters on December 3, 2025, where Police Chief Rafael Quintero honored Spike's sacrifice, saying his actions "ensured the safety of each one of our officers that night" and that his "legacy will remain with us always." Investigators credited Spike with protecting officers from harm. He was the first California police dog killed in the line of duty in over two years.