Officers were searching for a suspect with a K-9 unit Sunday afternoon at about 12:50 p.m. on Park Avenue Northeast near Livingston Street, according to authorities.
That's when officers said a pit bull came out of a house and attacked the police dog, police said.
Officers said they tried to get the pit bull off the police dog, but it kept challenging both the K-9 unit and the officers.
Salem Police Shift Commander Sergeant Waite said an officer was forced to shoot the dog once, killing it.
The owner of the dog is upset with Salem police. He says the pit bull was simply trying to play.
