YARMOUTH, Mass. — Yarmouth’s Board of Selectmen honored a retired police K9 officer who helped save the life of K9 Nero, who was shot in the line of duty.
The board issued an official proclamation to Peter McClelland during their meeting Tuesday night. McClelland received a loud ovation from everyone in the room.
K9 Nero was serving an arrest warrant on April 12 with his partner, Sgt. Sean Gannon, when they were shot by a career criminal hiding in an attic space inside a home in Marstons Mills. Their fellow officers rescued Sgt. Gannon, who later died from his injuries. K9 Nero was severely wounded, but remained trapped in the attic space with the armed suspect for nearly four hours.
McClelland came to the home and carried K9 Nero out of the house. During the months that followed, McClelland put his life on hold to take care of K9 Nero around the clock until he fully recovered.
K9 Nero is now living with Sgt. Gannon’s widow.
McClelland served as Yarmouth Police Department’s K9 Handler for 30 years before he retired in 2010. During that time, he became known as the premier police K9 handler and trainer in New England law enforcement.