'He gave his all every time we went out.' Statue dedicated to fallen Braintree police dog

Fred Hanson, The Patriot Ledger
Updated ·3 min read
1

BRAINTREE – Emotion got the best of Braintree Patrol Officer William Cushing, and he had to pause while talking about his slain K9 partner, Kitt.

"I think about Kitt every day," Cushing said. "He gave his all every time we went out."

He gave something more on his final call on June 4, 2021, charging at a domestic violence suspect with a gun who was hiding behind a large rock in a wooded area near the Braintree Village Apartment complex. The first shot in the gunfight struck Kitt, and the dog's actions are credited with saving the not only the life of Cushing, but Patrol Officers Matthew Donoghue and Richard Seibert as well. Cushing and Donoghue were wounded in the gunfight, Seibert was also injured.

"If not for Kitt, it would have been a dramatically different day," said Braintree Police Chief Timothy Cohoon.

Kitt's sacrifice was remembered Thursday when a statue of the Belgian Malinois was dedicated as part of a revamped police memorial outside the police station at Union Street and Cleveland Avenue.

Former Braintree Police Chief Mark Dubois, now chief in Portland, Maine, applauds the Kitt statue during a Braintree police ceremony to dedicate a statue of fallen K-9 officer Kitt and to rededicate the police memorial at the station on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.
Former Braintree Police Chief Mark Dubois, now chief in Portland, Maine, applauds the Kitt statue during a Braintree police ceremony to dedicate a statue of fallen K-9 officer Kitt and to rededicate the police memorial at the station on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.

"Unbelievable," Cushing said of the statue. "It's identical."

More: Braintree residents back the blue following shooting

The statue was the brainchild of five Braintree young people – Connor Flynn, Gavin Flynn, Marina Whitelaw, Sophia Whitelaw and Ella Wood – who were between 9 and 11 years old at the time of Kitt's death. They raised the $24,000 for the statue through lemonade stands and the sale of stuffed K-9 Kitt dogs and other fundraisers.

"We thought Kitt should be recognized," said Ella Wood.

As for the finished product, Wood said, "I think it's really nice. It's better than I expected."

Braintree Mayor Charles Kokoros recalled his initial meeting with the group where they presented him with a business plan.

The rededicated Braintree Police Officers Memorial was unveiled during a ceremony to dedicate a statue of K-9 Kitt and rededicate the memorial at the Union Street station on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.
The rededicated Braintree Police Officers Memorial was unveiled during a ceremony to dedicate a statue of K-9 Kitt and rededicate the memorial at the Union Street station on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.

"I'm so proud of each and every one of you," said he said.

More: Braintree police K9 Kitt 'died a true hero' protecting officers, officials said

Lena Toritch, who sculpted the statue from photographs of the dog, said she flew from her home in Salt Lake City for the ceremony because she wanted to meet the child organizers. She presented Cushing with a replica of the statue.

Toritch, whose works are displayed all over the world, took a year to complete the bronze sculpture of Kitt. She said she has done so many sculptures of dogs that she has lost count, but adds they represent 20 different breeds.

Massachusetts Department of Corrections Sgt. Mark O'Reilly, who trained Kitt, said he and Cushing were "an amazing team" who handled dangerous situations.

Braintree Police Chief Timothy Cohoon speaks about the dedication of his officers during a ceremony to dedicate a statue of K-9 Kitt and rededicate their police memorial at the Union Street station on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.
Braintree Police Chief Timothy Cohoon speaks about the dedication of his officers during a ceremony to dedicate a statue of K-9 Kitt and rededicate their police memorial at the Union Street station on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.

As Cushing noted, "when the police need the police, they call the K9s."

The ceremony also included the rededication of the department's memorial wall, which honors officers who died in the line of duty and while serving with the department. The memorial had been located across from the police station's main entrance. Cohoon said they wanted to move the wall to a more prominent location with Kitt.

More: Inspired by Braintree's Kitt, Baker signs bill allowing treatment, transport of police dogs

The wall will serve as "a daily reminder of the sacrifices made every day by our police officers," the chief said.

Of the 16 names engraved on the stone, two of the officers died in the line of duty: Police Lt. Gregory Principe and Police Sgt. Ernest DeCross, who were killed when their cruiser crashed on Middle Street during a pursuit on March 1, 1991.

Cohoon thanked the many people who worked to construct the memorial, including masons M.J. Spero and Co., Plymouth Quarries and workers from the town's Department of Public Works.

Several hundred people attended the ceremony, including state and town officials, police officers and residents.

The hourlong ceremony concluded with a walk-by of three dozen police K-9 teams from as far away as Cape Cod.

More: Quincy police officer adopts puppy for his family, then gives it away to K9 unit

Reach Fred Hanson at fhanson@patriotledger.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Statue of fallen Braintree police K9 Kitt unveiled outside station