The Virginia Department of Corrections held a memorial service Thursday for Rivan, a Belgian Malinois killed by inmates at Sussex I State Prison on April 2.
The 5-year-old canine and his handler, Officer Kharmishia Phillip Fields, intervened when three inmates on the jail assaulted a fourth prisoner in a cell, with a fifth coordinating the attack. The aggressors then kicked and stabbed Rivan.
None of the prisoners concerned have been named publicly by the Corrections Department.
Order was restored, however Rivan died from his accidents. The injured inmate was taken to a hospital for remedy and later returned to the jail. Officer Fields was unharmed.
“At least one person is alive today, and probably more, because of K-9 Rivan’s sacrifice,” Corrections Department Director Chad Dotson mentioned on the memorial service.
Maj. Matthew Bernocco, the division’s statewide canine coordinator, addressed Rivan, saying that “we can never thank you enough and hope that wherever your spirit is, they’re looking down and hearing these words today.”
PHOTOS: Memorial held for Okay-9 Rivan
At the service, mourners included legislation enforcement officers from round Virginia, together with different Okay-9 service dogs. Officers, accompanied by their dogs, paid their respects to Rivan as “Amazing Grace” was performed on bagpipes.
The 4 attacking inmates are within the U.S. illegally, with at the least three confirmed to be members of MS-13, a gang from El Salvador. They’re in jail for costs of first-degree murder, tried rape, malicious wounding, baby pornography, grand larceny and kidnapping.
On April 3, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, mentioned in a publish on X that “these barbaric members of MS-13 will be held accountable” for the deadly attack on Rivan.
Charges have but to be filed within the canine’s loss of life, however officers plan to prosecute the 4 inmates concerned.
