K9 Hero

Sarge

Garrett County Sheriff's Office — Oakland, MD

Stabbed German Shepherd

Service Record

End of Watch January 18, 1979

Weapon Edged weapon; Sword

K9 Profile

Breed German Shepherd

Cause Stabbed

Agency

Department Garrett County Sheriff's Office

Location Oakland, MD

Incident

K9 Sarge was killed with a samurai sword after he and his handler, Deputy Sheriff David Livengood, responded to a burglary call at Davidson's Army-Navy Discount Store on Route 219 just north of the city limits

After shooting Deputy Livengood, the two suspects killed his canine, Sarge, with a samurai sword. The suspects fled in Deputy Livengood's cruiser. A short time later they tied up a family near Dear Park and stole their car. Later that day they were captured by state police near Morgantown, West Virginia.

Both suspects were convicted of first-degree murder. One was sentenced to death but later his sentence was commuted to life. He died in prison on October 26, 2006. The other suspect was sentenced to life. On November 22, 2011, his murder conviction was reversed. He plead guilty to first-degree murder in 2016 and was sentenced to life but released on probation as part of a plea agreement with credit for time served.