Officer Bruno is a hero and is remembered as such as it was announced on the Friends of the Anaheim Police K-9 Association‘s Facebook page that the brave K-9 officer had died early in the morning of May 18.

Bruno had been shot during SWAT standoff in March 2014. The bullet struck, shattering his lower jaw, reentering his chest where is missed his heart by less than an inch and caught him in the lung. Yorba Regional Animal Hospital veterinarians rebuilt the bottom part of his jaw and removed half of his left lung. He had to learn how to eat again. Bruno is credited with saving the lives of three fellow officers that day and was the trusted and loyal partner to Officer RJ Young, all members of the Anaheim Police Department.

In a report from NBC Los Angeles affiliate 4, Bruno, who was retired in May 2014 after six years of outstanding service, went into emergency surgery on Saturday night. Unable to recover, his organs failing early Wednesday morning, the difficult decision was made to let him pass. Young and his family were on the East Coast attending a wedding when they received news. They rushed back, but when their plane was delayed in Tuscon, Young drove to the animal hospital and arrived at 4 a.m. “It’s with heavy hearts we announce the passing of K-9 Bruno at approximately 0555 hours this morning,” the Facebook post said.

The Facebook post shared, “Bruno was a warrior to the end and we will never forget OUR HERO! Rest well 26K2; we know you will be vigilantly watching over RJ and the rest of us from Heaven.”