TREMONTON, Utah — Three weeks after being wounded during a deadly domestic violence call, a Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office deputy and K-9 reunited with the medical teams who helped save their lives.
On Aug. 17, Deputy Mike Allred and his K-9 partner, Azula, responded to a domestic disturbance call in Tremonton. Two Tremonton-Garland Police Department officers — Sgt. Lee Sorensen, 56, and Officer Eric Estrada, 31 — were shot and killed in the incident. Allred and Azula were both injured as they arrived on scene.
Police said bystanders persuaded the gunman to surrender after opening fire on officers. The suspect was taken into custody and faces aggravated murder charges.
K-9 Azula’s rescue and recovery
Azula, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, was the first operational K-9 transported by Intermountain Health’s specialized air ambulance program for injured service animals, the hospital stated in a press release.
The program, launched in February 2024, is the first of its kind in Utah and only the third in the nation, according to Intermountain Health.
K-9 Azula was flown by Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance to MedVet Salt Lake City, where critical care veterinarians treated her for serious injuries. After weeks of recovery, Azula has returned to duty.
Deputy Allred was transported separately to Intermountain Health Bear River Hospital, where he was treated and released.
On Sept. 9, Allred and Azula reunited with the Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance crews and MedVet staff who cared for them.
“I’m so thankful and grateful for this program and for everyone who responded that night,” Allred said. “Azula is doing well and has returned to work. I really appreciate the outpouring of support that has been shown to us.”
Filling a critical gap in K-9 emergency care
The Intermountain Health program is designed to provide specialized trauma care and rapid transport for operational K-9s injured in the line of duty. Injuries may include gunshot wounds, automobile accidents or other critical trauma.
Participating veterinary hospitals are open 24/7, staffed with board-certified specialists, and equipped with ventilators and blood banks for transfusions.
“Operational K-9s are essential to our communities and public safety,” said Darby Earle, an Intermountain Health flight nurse who leads the K-9 transport team. “These animals are involved in EMS, search and rescue, law enforcement, fire rescue, FEMA, narcotics detection, and TS. They serve our communities well.”
Earle noted that training for police service dogs can cost $40,000 to $70,000 and take up to five years, making them not only highly valuable resources but also family to their handlers and agencies.
Dr. Katie Dawson, a critical care veterinarian at MedVet Salt Lake City, said her team was proud to provide Azula’s care.
“Everything went smoothly from the transport to her treatment here at the hospital,” Dawson said. “She was a terrific patient!”
Remembering the fallen
While Azula and Deputy Allred have returned to duty, the law enforcement community continues to mourn the loss of Sgt. Sorensen and Officer Estrada.
“These officers are definitely heroes,” Brigham City Police Chief Chad Reyes said after the shooting. “Domestic disturbance calls are among the most dangerous events we can be dispatched on. We really don’t know what we’re walking into.”
Gov. Spencer Cox called the shooting “a terrible and tragic night,” adding that Utah mourns the loss “of these courageous law enforcement officers.”
