Three Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies in Florida escaped a shooting uninjured because a seven-year-old German shepherd named Ace positioned himself in front of at least four rounds fired by 27-year-old Angel Bowers. One bullet struck his left front leg, shattering the bone and severing an artery. The blood loss was massive. Surgeons amputated the limb in a several-hour operation at the Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch, and Ace walked out of the facility under his own power less than a week after being shot.
The arrest, the shooting, and how Ace intervened
Bowers had failed to appear in court. When deputies moved to arrest him, he fired at least four rounds at three officers. Ace protected them and absorbed the round that destroyed his left front leg. Bowers was shot and killed at the scene.
Ace's handler, Deputy Natalie Oestreich, applied treatment on site and carried Ace out of the area. Deputies rushed him to Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Lakeland for stabilization, then a Tampa General Hospital Aeromed helicopter transported him to the Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch for surgery.
Incident and care summary
| Detail | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Rounds fired at deputies | At least 4 |
| Deputies protected | 3 |
| Limb amputated | Left front leg |
| Initial treatment site | Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic, Lakeland |
| Surgery site | Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch |
| Surgery duration | Several hours |
Post-surgery: walking out before the camera could follow
Ace tried to walk out of the clinic immediately after waking from anesthesia. At discharge, he outran the crew filming his release and departed wearing a shirt that read "ride or die."
Two days after leaving the medical center, Ace visited the Polk County Sheriff's Office for the first time since being shot. Sheriff Grady Judd said the dog was happy and eating well. Ace bit the sheriff's finger during the visit. Judd credited Ace and Deputy Oestreich with saving three deputies' lives.
Retirement and ongoing care
Ace joined the Polk County Sheriff's Office in March 2020. He will not return to active duty. Deputy Oestreich will take time with Ace during his recovery before returning to work herself.
Polk Sheriff's Charities Inc. has opened a K-9 fund for Ace's ongoing care. Donations go directly to the fund through the organization's website.