Massachusetts State Police K-9 killed in line of duty

FITCHBURG, Mass. (WLNE) — A Massachusetts State Police K-9 was killed in the line of duty Tuesday after a standoff in Fitchburg.

Col. Christopher Mason said K-9 Frankie was shot and killed by Matthew Mack, 38, Tuesday afternoon.

According to state police, Mack, who was wanted on firearms charges stemming from a July 21, barricaded himself inside a home in Fitchburg at about 9 a.m. Tuesday after troopers tracked him to that location.

Following several hours of negotiations, troopers spotted Mack around the rear of the home and attempted to apprehend him, when he fired several shots, fatally hitting K-9 Frankie.

Just before 5:30 p.m., troopers deployed a drone unit into the home and discovered that Mack had shot himself. No other officers or troopers were injured.

“He was a beloved member of the Massachusetts State Police family and the Stucenski family. He was, as much as any human of the member of the Department, one of us and part of us,” said Mason.

Frankie was a few months shy of his 11th birthday. His handler was Sgt. David Stucenski.

Stucenski and Frankie had previously received several honors for their outstanding service to the community.

Mason said Frankie was the first instance of Nero’s Law being put to use and that he was the first K-9 killed in the line of duty in the department’s history.