“You Saved Dad, and Now We Have to Save You”
Two years to the day after the harrowing incident, Wisconsin state Rep. Jerry O’Connor honors Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Deputy Blaine Evans and K9 Iro as the 60th Assembly District’s First Responders of the Year, according to a news release.
O’Connor (R-Fond du Lac) released the following statement after honoring Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Deputy Blaine Evans and K9 Iro as the 60th Assembly District’s First Responders of the Year:
“Two years ago, the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Deputy Blaine Evans, and K-9 Iro narrowly avoided tragedy. Yesterday, two years ago to the day, we honored both as the 60th Assembly District’s First Responders of the Year.
On October 14, 2023, the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office got a 911 call from a woman who said that she had just escaped a man who had sexually assaulted her and had been holding her at gunpoint.
Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Deputy Blaine Evans and his police dog, Iro, responded to the call, despite only having five minutes left in their shift. Deputy Evans and Iro attempted to apprehend the suspect after he failed to comply with law enforcement and exited his vehicle, and began firing a long rifle at Deputy Evans and Iro.
Iro leaped into action, diverting the assailants’ rifle fire away from Deputy Evans. However, in defending the deputy, Iro was shot 5 times. As Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said, ‘without Iro, more bullets would have been fired not only at [Deputy] Evans, but also toward the residences behind him.’
K9 units live full-time with their handlers, becoming not just partners on duty but beloved members of the family. After the assailant was neutralized, Deputy Evans said to a gravely wounded Iro, ‘You saved Dad, and now we have to save you.’
Iro was rushed to a local pet hospital for emergency surgeries and other life-saving measures. After a miraculous recovery and nearly a year of physical therapy, Iro returned to duty on full-time patrol in 2024.
Deputy Evans and Iro faced substantial risk of injury and death as they were all that stood between the armed suspect and residents sleeping in their homes nearby. Their courageous actions ended the situation without injury to innocent civilians. Yesterday, Deputy Evans and Iro were honored before the Assembly for their bravery and dedication to public service as part of First Responders Day.
On behalf of the people of Fond du Lac, thank you to Deputy Evans and Iro for their courage and dedication. Thank you to Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt, the FDL Sheriff’s Office, and all of FDL’s First Responders for their service and dedication to our community.”
