A police officer and K9 near Houston are used to helping others in their community. The crime-fighting duo has been on the streets of Deer Park for nearly six years.But during a recent tornado, it was the police dog himself who needed saving."He's put himself in harm's way for me before," Officer Joel Nitchman told KHOU. So one week ago, Nitchman got his chance to do the same for his narcotics K9 Roni. "I'll never forget the noise. That's when I knew this was a big tornado," Nitchman said. The pair had just returned to the police station after training when the winds started picking up. Roni was in his kennel in the squad car. "The thought of debris or the car flipping over. I couldn't do that to him, I couldn't have him out there during that," Nitchman said. Surveillance cameras captured Nitchman running outside with lightning flashing, barely able to see in front of him."I knew something was bad when things were hitting my face, I don't know what. I knew it was debris of some kind," Nitchman said. It was about to get much worse."Once I went around the car is when all heck broke loose," Nitchman said. The wind and rain was so strong he couldn't get Roni out."I could barely open his door. When I did, he's a smart dog. He saw what was going on outside, and he was like, 'I'm not coming out,'" Nitchman said. Nitchman knew he had seconds to get back indoors. At one point, visibility was down to zero around him. "I'm like coaxing him. Come on, buddy. Let's go," Nitchman said. Seconds later, the pair is seen rushing back around the squad car toward the safety of the station.The front door was nearly blocked by a fence that had been tossed around in the wind."Never been through anything like that before," Nitchman said. One week after that close call, the video has gone viral. Nitchman's being celebrated for choosing to put himself in harm's way to save his K-9 partner, but he says he did what anyone would have done, and he'd do it again in a heartbeat. "I love that dog. He's my hip attachment almost every day of the week. He's a part of our family. You can't leave a loved one like that. There's no way I was going to leave him like that," Nitchman said. One week later, the team is back on the job after an experience that he says only brought them closer together. Upon investigation, the National Weather Service reported that the tornado ended up being a category F3.
A police officer and K9 near Houston are used to helping others in their community. The crime-fighting duo has been on the streets of Deer Park for nearly six years.
But during a recent tornado, it was the police dog himself who needed saving.
"He's put himself in harm's way for me before," Officer Joel Nitchman told KHOU.
So one week ago, Nitchman got his chance to do the same for his narcotics K9 Roni.
"I'll never forget the noise. That's when I knew this was a big tornado," Nitchman said.
The pair had just returned to the police station after training when the winds started picking up. Roni was in his kennel in the squad car.
"The thought of debris or the car flipping over. I couldn't do that to him, I couldn't have him out there during that," Nitchman said.
Surveillance cameras captured Nitchman running outside with lightning flashing, barely able to see in front of him.
"I knew something was bad when things were hitting my face, I don't know what. I knew it was debris of some kind," Nitchman said.
It was about to get much worse.
"Once I went around the car is when all heck broke loose," Nitchman said.
The wind and rain was so strong he couldn't get Roni out.
"I could barely open his door. When I did, he's a smart dog. He saw what was going on outside, and he was like, 'I'm not coming out,'" Nitchman said.
Nitchman knew he had seconds to get back indoors. At one point, visibility was down to zero around him.
"I'm like coaxing him. Come on, buddy. Let's go," Nitchman said.
Seconds later, the pair is seen rushing back around the squad car toward the safety of the station.
The front door was nearly blocked by a fence that had been tossed around in the wind.
"Never been through anything like that before," Nitchman said.
One week after that close call, the video has gone viral.
Nitchman's being celebrated for choosing to put himself in harm's way to save his K-9 partner, but he says he did what anyone would have done, and he'd do it again in a heartbeat.
"I love that dog. He's my hip attachment almost every day of the week. He's a part of our family. You can't leave a loved one like that. There's no way I was going to leave him like that," Nitchman said.
One week later, the team is back on the job after an experience that he says only brought them closer together.
Upon investigation, the National Weather Service reported that the tornado ended up being a category F3.
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