First K-9 officer in North Myrtle Beach remembered for service

A memorial dedication for K-9 Bravo, a member of the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety, was held on Friday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. in the lobby of the Public Safety building. K-9 Bravo’s handler Sgt. Ray Atwood III, his family, friends and members of the department attended.
Public Safety Director William Bailey said Bravo was more than a K-9, he was the beginning of the K-9 program in North Myrtle Beach.
“We are here to honor a great K-9 and in doing so it means many things. Bravo was the start of a program where we worked hand-in-hand with the community. Sgt. Atwood went out into the community and raised funds and awareness for the program. Bravo taught us how important it was to work with the community,” he said.
“It was not that he was just a great K-9 for the department and for his partner Sgt. Atwood, he was a great beginning for our community and this department working together for something important and good,” Bailey said.
“We are here today with our flags flying at half-mast in honor of our city’s fist K-9, Bravo. Some people might say he was just a dog, but he was more than a dog he was a police officer. Bravo’s name in itself characterizes his traits—brave, reliable, agile, vigilant and obedient,” said Atwood.
“In our time of service together we accomplished several milestones. We took drugs, criminals off the street. We did a lot of training. He was awarded several medals and he even attended a 100-hour structural firefighting class with me. He received an honorary structural firefighter certificate. I would like to thank my department, the mayor and council and the citizens of the city for allowing me the great privilege and honor of working with such a fine partner as Bravo,” he said.
Atwood said he could tell hundreds of stories about Bravo. “We did a lot and had a lot of good times.”
A 23-year veteran of the Department of Public Safety, Atwood and Bravo received several awards through the United States Police Canine Association for drug detection and tracking cases during their service together for the city and were awarded Police Officers of the Year in 2002.
“You couldn’t ask for a better partner. He never argued, never complained, if I wanted to stop he stopped and he never complained about the music I played in the car. He was 100 percent behind whatever I wanted to do. He was my boy.”
Atwood said when his daughter moved out someone asked her how her dad would handle that. She said he would be fine because he had his son Bravo.
Bravo will be featured in a book to be released soon about K-9s in service to police around the country.
“He was my partner, my friend and he will never be forgotten,” Atwood said as his voice broke. “With nothing else to say, rest in peace my friend.”
After Sgt. Atwood’s mother, Billie Atwood read a poem honoring Bravo, the memorial was unveiled.
A final call went out over the police radio from dispatch closing out Bravo’s long and distinguished service to the department.
“Control, K-9 Bravo 427,” the voice called three times.
A final call said simply, “No response. K-9 Bravo 427 out of service.”

BY Judy Corley

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