A Billerica Police K-9 was struck by a vehicle Thursday night while helping officers track down a missing man in Lowell, leaving the young black Labrador retriever hurt but expected to recover fully. K-9 KC was working alongside Officer John Duggan near the intersection of Monadnock Avenue and Staples Street when the collision happened.
KC and Duggan were assisting Lowell Police with a missing person report when she was struck, according to a release from the Billerica Police Department covered by news.jgpr.net. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene and cooperated with Lowell Police, who investigated the crash, the department said. Officer Duggan then transported KC to MassVet in Woburn for evaluation of her injuries.
At the veterinary hospital, KC received treatment for her injuries and what the department described as plenty of support from fellow officers, according to a report from the Boston Globe. Billerica Police Chief Roy Frost addressed the incident directly, saying he was relieved the injuries were not worse. “I am glad KC did not suffer more serious injuries and that she can recover at home with Officer Duggan,” Frost said, per the same report.
A Young Dog With a Meaningful Name
KC is a 1½-year-old black Labrador retriever who joined the Billerica Police Department in 2025 and is certified in tracking, according to the jgpr.net report. She graduated from the Connecticut State Police K-9 program in July. Her name carries weight within the department: KC is named after fallen Billerica Police Officer Kenneth Collins, who died in the line of duty on Oct. 7, 1969.
According to WCVB, Chief Frost also emphasized the broader value the department's K-9 unit brings to investigations, calling the dogs valuable assets not just to Billerica but to neighboring departments that request their help, and noting that the K-9s are considered part of the Billerica Police Department family. The outlet also reported that Lowell Police ultimately located the missing man and thanked everyone who assisted in the search.
What Billerica's K-9 Unit Does
The Billerica Police Department's K-9 unit is tasked with tracking and searching for lost individuals as well as tracking and apprehending criminal suspects, according to the department's own description on its website. Other dogs in the unit, including LaMarca and Cassius, have received training in tracking and intend to pursue additional training in search and rescue and human remains detection, per the department.
For now, KC's recovery is the focus. She is expected to make a full recovery, and with Officer Duggan by her side at home, the department says she's on the mend after a night that started as a search for someone else and ended with her own department rallying around her.
