Police dog Gazza has been officially farewelled today after he was shot and killed on duty last week.
Draped in a New Zealand flag and a police hat on top of him, police have paid tribute to their four-legged friend and colleague.
"His job was to obey, serve and protect. This he bravely did."
The four-year-old German shepherd was shot dead in Porirua on Friday by Pita Tekira, a man police had been searching for since the start of April.
Tekira has broken out of his electronically monitored bracelet in Hawke's Bay and was wanted on a number of charges.
During a search of a property in Kokiri Cres, Gazza was fatally shot while a police officer, who was not Gazza's handler, jumped out a second-storey window to escape Tekira.
Following an overnight standoff with police at a separate address, Tekira was found dead in the upper level having barricaded the second storey.
Gazza was the seventh dog to be fatally shot since 1972, but the 24th to be killed on duty.
His legacy will live on, however, with his nephews and nieces being born as part of the police dog breeding programme.
See More:
Newshub.
