My sympathies to Officer Deese and his family. Isn’t it lovely that his family understands his connection to Sonja well enough that they are letting the two of them rest in peace together?
Thanks to WSOCTV.com for this news.
S.C. Deputy To Be Buried With His Police Dog
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. — A Dorchester County deputy once named South Carolina deputy of the year and his police dog will be buried together this week,
Sheriff’s Cpl. Mike Deese, 38, was killed on patrol around 5:20 p.m. Friday when an eastbound pickup truck crossed the median of I-26 near the Harleyville exit and slammed into his cruiser, authorities said.
Deese and the driver of the pickup, 53-year-old Christopher Burnham Jr. of Summerville, both died instantly, Coroner Chris Nisbet said.
Deese’s patrol dog, Sonja, was in the back of his cruiser and also died, Nisbet said.
Three other vehicles were involved in Friday’s wreck, but no one in the other cars were seriously injured, authorities said.
Deese’s funeral was scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at Faith Assembly Church in Summerville, with the burial the next day. Deese and Sonja, one of two working dogs that lived with Deese and his family, will be buried in the same coffin, Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash said.
