Tragedy struck the Maine State Police (MSP) on Tuesday with the loss of K-9 officer Preacher, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, who was fatally shot during a tactical operation. Preacher and his handler, Sgt. Jonathan Russell, were responding to a domestic dispute involving 29-year-old Steven Righini in Portage, Maine. The situation escalated into an armed standoff, during which Righini shot an Aroostook County deputy.
After a standoff lasting several hours, Righini attempted to escape around 8 p.m. Preacher was deployed to apprehend him but was tragically shot in the abdomen. Sgt. Russell and Specialist Andrew Hardy engaged Righini, returning fire and fatally wounding him at the scene.
Preacher was immediately transported to an emergency veterinary clinic in Presque Isle for surgery, but despite the best efforts of the veterinary team, he succumbed to his injuries early Tuesday morning, surrounded by Sgt. Russell and members of the tactical team.
MSP Col. William Ross praised Preacher's dedication, stating, "K-9 Preacher was more than just a working dog—he was a dedicated partner, a protector, and a hero. Most people will never understand the sacrifices made by our K-9 teams, but last night, Preacher made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others from harm."
Sgt. Russell and Preacher graduated from the MSP K-9 Patrol School in the fall of 2023 and served the Southern Field Troop area and the MSP Tactical Team. The Maine State Police expressed their condolences to Sgt. Russell and the entire K-9 Unit, emphasizing the courage and dedication of law enforcement officers and their K-9 partners.
