Tyler ISD CTC Students Dedicate Doghouse to Slain K-9 Officer

TYLER – Some Tyler ISD students have dedicated a doghouse to Ogar, the Smith County K-9 recently slain following a traffic stop that spurred a lengthy manhunt. According to a news release, construction science students and faculty in the Career and Technology Center have spent the last few months building and selling special doghouses to benefit Pets Fur People, a local charity. However, it is the dog house they built just last week that may have meant the most: a memorial doghouse designed especially for Ogar. The doghouse was displayed during Ogar’s memorial service and then donated to Ogar’s partner, Deputy Kevin Petty.

Construction teacher DeAnna Molloy explained that Tyler ISD Police Chief Danny Brown came to her with a request made to him from organizers of the memorial service. The request was to use one of the remaining doghouses from the Pets Fur People project during the service. After discussing the project with Chief Brown and Tyler ISD Officer Leisa Geddie, whose partner is the District’s K-9 officer named Raven, they all came up with an idea.

According to Molloy, Chief Brown said that if the students could replicate Ogar’s badge and the canine unit’s logo of the paw print somehow, he would buy the house to give to Deputy Petty. Molloy said the students could do both, but it would be donated, not sold. So together with other faculty members, students, and Officer Geddie, they immediately got busy working on the pieces. Molloy said the kids were excited about the project. Michael Paul Koch of Grand Saline remains in custody in the shooting.