Hundreds Honor Injured Braintree Officers, Slain Police Dog

BRAINTREE, MA — Hundreds of people gathered at Braintree Town Hall Monday night to show their support for two police officers who were wounded in a shooting and pay condolences to their police dog that was shot and killed.

Those in attendance, including residents, first responders, Mayor Charles Kokoros and other town officials, signed posters to thank officers William Cushing Jr. and Matthew Donaghue for their service on the Braintree police force, as well as wish them a speedy recovery.

"The support is amazing," Police Chief Mark Dubois said. "The community is incredible. It means a lot to everybody. It's overwhelming really."

People also wrote messages on a memorial banner commemorating police K-9 Kitt, who died during the shooting Friday.

"The amount of situations he was in, Kitt always came through," Kokoros said about Kitt. "He found the suspect in the situation at the [South Shore] Plaza shooting, just a number of situations. He was always able to find the suspect and every case ended in a way the police officers and the public was safe thanks to Kitt, his bravery and his abilities."

Cushing and Donaghue both were injured with multiple gunshot wounds while responding to a domestic situation at the Braintree Village apartments. Authorities identified the suspect as Andrew Homen, 34, of Brockton. Homen was shot-and-killed after ambushing the officers in the woods, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office.

Donaghue, a nine-year Braintree police veteran, was released from the hospital Saturday. He was healthy enough to throw the first pitch at the Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park on Monday.

Cushing, a 15-year police veteran, remained in the hospital Monday night, but Dubois said he's expected to be released Tuesday or Wednesday.

"He's the best kid you could ever ask for, said Linda Federico, a longtime friend of Cushing who grew up in the same neighborhood. "He's a great family man."

But even though Cushing is on the road to recovery, the loss of Kitt hits Cushing in particular, because he was the K-9's handler.

"It's the relationship of what they have with their pet, but there's an additional bond there because that person is their partner," said Town Councilor David Ringius, a friend of Cushing. "That person is the one they're going to work with every day. That person is their protector to a degree."

"It's part of the family. It is their dog, but it also has a job to do as well," Town Councilor Larry Mackin added. "I have dogs, so I can understand it. It's definitely a tragic loss for the officer involved."

Dubois said services for Kitt will be held at a later date.