Hundreds attend memorial service for SLED K-9 Coba

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Hundreds gathered at the SC Criminal Justice Academy Wednesday morning for the memorial service of SLED K-9 Coba, who was killed in the line of duty on June 11th.

Special Agent Cole Powell, along with his wife and children, were greeted by K-9s and their handlers from across the state, as they made their way inside for the ceremony.

“The Lord sent an angel. He sent Coba as that protective shield. That angel. So that our folks went home that day,” says SLED Chief Mark Keel.

According to the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and SLED agents were attempting to serve a felony warrant in Prosperity last Tuesday on burglary suspect James Robert Peterson — who was found hiding inside his mother Scarlett Boyd’s home.

Once agents made their way into the home, the sheriff’s office reports that Peterson shot and killed four-year-old Coba.

The suspect was then shot and disabled by law enforcement and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, where he now faces additional criminal charges. Boyd was also arrested for hindering law enforcement officers serving process.

Special Agent Powell describes his friend and partner as fearless, also recalling Coba’s fellow K-9 Buddy Rico who was killed in the line of duty last September.

“It’s hard to understand why this happened again so soon after my brother Richard lost Rico. But I do understand one thing. Both of them were right where they were meant to be. Tuesday morning Coba was surrounded by people who actually truly loved him. Our training and our fate were met in the final seconds of his life. I will forever be thankful for him, and the memories we have of him will live on forever,” says Powell.

He and his family were also presented with American flags by Governor Henry McMaster and Chief Keel during the ceremony.

“We all love our animals, love our dogs, but this relationship between these law officers and these dogs is unique. And it gives you hope that if only people could be like these animals,” says Governor McMaster.

“If you looked today and saw Cole’s family, Alex and CJ and McKinley… to think what could’ve been… we could’ve been planning an entirely different memorial service today,” says Chief Keel.

According to SLED K-9 Coba and Special Agent Powell were together for over 300 deployments and 16 criminal apprehensions.