Kilo and Magnum were killed in the line of duty earlier this year.  (Photos courtesy of Anderson Police)

The Anderson Police Department is holding a special memorial service Saturday afternoon for two K-9 officers killed in the line of duty.

The memorial is set for 2pm at the Eastside Church of God in Anderson. Anderson Police Chief Larry Crenshaw says K-9 are the "front officers" in most investigations and are almost always the first to find and take down wanted suspects. The K-9 include Kilo, killed following a police shootout with a suspect in Pendleton July 26th. Crenshaw says they recently discovered that Kilo suffered a gunshot wound at the hands of the suspect. He says Kilo was panicked by the gunfire and started to attack an officer. He says they had to put Kilo down as a result.

The other K9 is Magnum, killed in the apprehension of a bank robbery suspect. Magnum caught up with the suspect in a field area.He says the suspect shot the dog which suffered irreparable injuries. Crenshaw says K-9 are invaluable members of any police department. He says losing them is like losing a human partner.