INSPIRASUNS

I’ve been following a story from Polk County, FL over the past few days. It’s a sad story, but one that also shows the heart of God’s children and how they come together in difficult times.

The story is about one of the county’s K-9 officers named Ace. Ace was shot by a wanted suspect as the deputies tried to arrest him. Ace saved the lives of three other deputies on Thursday evening, almost giving his own in the process.

What strikes me about the story is not only that Ace is a hero, doing what he was trained to do, but the way he was treated following the shooting. He was treated like any other deputy sheriff injured in the line of duty. Professional care was immediately given to save his life.

Here is an update from yesterday from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on their FB page:
There are so many people and organizations that the Polk County Sheriff’s Office would like to acknowledge and thank for their part in getting our K9 Ace the help he needed after he was shot by a suspect on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

Immediately after he was wounded, Ace was taken to Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Lakeland, where his bleeding was stopped, and he was stabilized by Dr. Oscar Aguayo and his team.

Once stabilized, Ace was picked up by Tampa General Hospital’s Aeromed helicopter with pilot Chad Loftin (Metro Aviation), Chief Flight Nurse Tracy Sanderson (TGH), and Flight Paramedic Kenny Switzer (TGH).

Aeromed transported Ace to Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton to be cared for by Dr. Devon Diaz and his team.

Ace is a 7-year-old German Shepherd. He has been with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office since March of 2020.

He was shot in the front left leg. The bullet broke his leg and tore an artery, which caused him to lose a lot of blood.

The PCSO is truly grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support from our community. We appreciate the support for our deputies involved last night, and of course for Ace and his well-being.

Many have reached out to the PCSO asking if there was anything they could do.

Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. has an established K9 Fund that will be used to support K9 Ace’s care. For those who have asked how they can help, donations may be made directly to the K9 Fund through the link below. Once on the donation page, simply select “K9” from the dropdown menu.

The Wiltse Family Trust has already informed us that they intend to cover the cost for Ace’s care at Veterinary Medical Center the Lakewood Ranch AND the Trust has already committed to purchasing a new K9 to replace Ace now that he will have to retire.

Again, we sincerely appreciate the continued support, kindness, and generosity shown to our K9 Unit during this difficult time.

And an update last evening following Ace’s surgery:
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to report that K9 Ace’s surgery went well.

Unfortunately, Ace’s front left leg was too damaged, and it had to be amputated.

Ace is currently in stable condition.

Thank you to the staff at Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch for their work on our fuzzy guy, and thank you to the Wiltse Family Trust, which has offered to pay for Ace’s treatment in Bradenton.

Ace’s partner, Deputy Natalie Oestreich, can be seen in the foreground of this photo. She has remained by Ace’s side since he was shot last night.

The Lord has blessed us with all creatures great and small. Ace is one of those creatures. He put his life between his deputies and an armed suspect, and he saved them that night.

Thank you, Father, for the gift of Ace. Please continue to heal his body and guide the hands of the doctors and nurses who are treating him. Give strength to his handler, Deputy Natalie Oestreich, as she helps to bring him back to health.

Friends, say a prayer for Ace and for his handler Natalie that all may be healed.

Genesis 1:25
And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.