CT state police to hold service for K-9 killed by suspect during fatal officer-involved shooting

The Connecticut State Police will hold a memorial service on Tuesday Jan. 16, 2024 for police K-9 Broko, who died in the line of duty on Dec. 21, 2023, and the event will be streamed on Facebook, according to the agency.

The Connecticut Office of Inspector General in December released a preliminary report and body camera footage revealing new details in the officer-involved shooting that led to the death of the suspect and state police K-9 Broko.

The report by Inspector General Robert Devlin, Jr., said 42-year-old Vaughn R. Malloy died as a result of gunfire that was returned by police outside a Pawcatuck residence on Dec. 21. Devlin is investigating the officer-involved shooting.

K-9 Broko was a graduate of the 218th Connecticut State Police Patrol K-9 Class in January 2021. He and his handler were assigned to Troop A in Southbury and then to the Connecticut State Police K-9 Unit.

The memorial service for Broko will be open to Connecticut State Police sworn and civilian personnel only, or by invitation, according to the agency.  “At the request of K9 Broko’s family, the service is not open to the general public or media,” according to Connecticut State Police.

Dog teams from NESPAC, or the New England State Police Administrators Conference and from Connecticut municipalities will attend the service, state police said. Dog teams from across the country – who have trained with the CSP K9 Unit – also were invited to attend, state police said.

The service will be livestreamed on the Connecticut State Police Facebook page for those who would like to watch the service, the agency said.

The service is scheduled for 10 a.m. January 16, state police said.

According to Devlin’s report, members of the Connecticut State Police Violent Crime Task Force East, which also includes officers from the Norwich, Groton and Waterford Police Departments, attempted to arrest Malloy around 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at a residence located on Mechanic Street in connection with a warrant tied to a shooting reported in Norwich on April 28, 2022. A warrant had been out for Malloy’s arrest since June 20, 2022, in connection with the shooting, during which police allege he fired a gun into the front of a residence, striking a female victim.

Police attempting to arrest Malloy last Thursday had not yet recovered the gun used in the Norwich incident, according to Devlin’s report.

Body camera footage released in conjunction with Devlin’s preliminary report showed police outside the residence using what appeared to be a megaphone or PA system to call out multiple times, “This is Connecticut State Police with a warrant.” Police also asked Malloy multiple times to come to the front door with his hands up and nothing in his hands.

According to Devlin’s report, the tactical unit decided to breach the front door of the residence using an extended ram attached to the front of an armored vehicle. Shortly after the front door was breached, Malloy ran out of the residence through a rear door and into the backyard, Devlin wrote.

The tactical team spotted Malloy with a pistol and told him to stop, according to Devlin’s report.

“He’s running, he’s running,” an officer can be heard saying in the bodycam footage.

According to Devlin, a tactical team member deployed two “less lethal impact munitions” at Malloy as he disregarded commands to stop and continued running east. The body camera footage shows that K-9 Broko approached Malloy as he fell to the ground.

According to the preliminary report, Malloy fired several rounds at the K-9, killing him, and at authorities, striking a police vehicle. In response, Sgt. Sean Paddock and Troopers Gregory Fascendini, Christopher Church and Jarred Bolduc returned fire, striking Malloy several times, according to the report.

State police have said they were mourning the death of K-9 Broko, who they said “ultimately sacrificed his life doing what he was known best for.”

“K-9 Broko courageously gave his life protecting his handler, fellow troopers and our community,” state police said. “K-9 Broko was not just a loyal companion; he was a hero in every sense, embodying the values of courage, loyalty, selflessness and the highest standards of the Connecticut State Police. His sacrifice will forever be etched in our hearts and never be forgotten.”