The police dog shot and killed in Porirua this morning had previously survived being choked by a man he was chasing.
Gazza, the four-year-old German Shepherd, was bred at the Police Dog Training Centre at Trentham.
He was shot and killed on duty during a planned execution of a search warrant at a Kokiri Cres house.
A large cordon is up in the area and the alleged gunman is still being sought by police.
Gazza is the seventh police dog to have been fatally shot since 1972, but the 24th to be killed on duty. The most recent fatal dog shooting was Gage, who was killed on July 13, 2010.
Police Inspector Todd Southall, Dog Training Centre national coordinator, has paid tribute to Gazza, saying his legacy will live on because he was a member of the breeding programme.
He graduated from training in late 2013 with handler Constable Josh Robertson. Both have "served bravely" since then, Insp Southall says.
"They have been a very effective team in Wellington tracking, searching and catching offenders."
The pair is set to feature in an upcoming episode of Dog Squad.
Earlier last year, Gazza tracked a man for 3.5 kilometres through Wainuiomata where he was choked by the offender.
They had also been popular visitors to schools, sports grounds and open days.
Police say police dog work is relatively safe, considering they are sent on at least 40,000 jobs a year.
A police memorial will be held for Gazza in due time.
Newshub.
