K-9 officer gets honor day after dog is killed

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A K-9 officer with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department has been named Deputy of the Year just one day after his police dog was shot and killed as they hunted for a robbery suspect.

Officials said the panel that chooses the winning officer made its decision two weeks ago to honor Master Deputy Warren Cavanagh.

Sheriff Leon Lott said Cavanagh got a standing ovation from his fellow officers. He said “God works in mysterious ways” as he announced the winner of the award Saturday.

Cavanagh’s police dog Fargo was shot three times and killed as he tried to help capture a robbery suspect early Friday morning.

Cavanagh has been a Richland County deputy for five years and worked with police dogs since 2004.