(St. Joseph County, IN) - A beloved K9 member of the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has passed away.
Passersby may have noticed an increased police presence at Oak Knoll Veterinary Clinic in Rolling Prairie Thursday. It was a show of last respects for a four-legged, big-hearted member of law enforcement known as Sheriff Bruno.
Just one day before, the 12-year-old American bulldog received a heartbreaking diagnosis of terminal cancer. He took his last breath Thursday in the arms of his handler, Special Deputy Joe Hamer.
Bruno was adopted from an animal shelter by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, where he began his career, earning the honorary title Sheriff. He even joined the Fraternal Order of Police.
Sheriff Bruno joined the St. Joseph County police force in 2019. Since then, serving as a comfort dog, he made countless appearances at schools, graduations, 4-H Fairs, parades, career days, and memorial services. Bruno also traveled to Washington, D.C. multiple times to honor fallen officers and even attended a presidential inauguration. He was a good boy, who made thousands of people happy.
According to those who knew him best, Bruno had a special gift for consoling grief. His specialty was comforting the families of officers killed in the line of duty. It’s a mission he travelled the state and the country to carry out.
On Thursday officers suddenly were left to comfort each other, with Sheriff Bruno’s passing. A procession of police comrades escorted Bruno to the South Lawn Cemetery for cremation. Details for a memorial service will be released soon.
