SLED investigating death of a police dog in officer’s car in Dorchester County

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the death of a Dorchester County police dog that happened in July.

“SLED’s investigation is active and ongoing,” said agency director of public information Renée Wunderlich on Monday.

Wunderlich said the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office requested SLED on Aug. 29 to investigate the death of the police dog, commonly referred to as a “K-9.”

That day, the sheriff’s office posted a notice on its Facebook page saying the office “is ACTIVELY investigating the untimely death of one of our K-9 officers.”

According to news accounts, the five-year-old police dog — whose name wasn’t given — died in its handler’s patrol car on July 28.

The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office’s webpage says its K-9 unit “has 11 certified K-9 Officers that assist with ensuring the safety of the citizens of Dorchester County. The K-9 unit performs vehicle, residential, or area sweeps for narcotics and are used for ‘in-progress calls’ to assist with tracking and locating possible suspects.

“All K-9 officers maintain a high-level of proficiency and skills necessary to maintain their certification, they continue to attend various training classes and also train together as a unit, once a week. This prepares the canine officer and officer handler for the many situations in which the dogs’ abilities and keen senses are needed to better serve their fellow officers and citizens in the community.”

South Carolina police dogs have been in the news in the last year.

Last month, a former Florence County deputy was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature after his unleashed police dog entered a mobile home and attacked an innocent occupant, a 72-year-old man, severely mauling him.

In June, SLED K-9 Coba, a Belgian Malinois mix who joined SLED in 2021, was shot and killed by a suspect in Newberry County. The suspect was shot and taken into custody.

In September of 2023, K-9 Rico, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois mix, was shot and killed by a suspect fleeing from officers on Johns Island. The suspect, Ernest Robert Burbage III, who was wanted on a fugitive warrant, was then shot and killed by police. Burbage had shot and wounded two people, police said.