At least $50,000 raised for Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 unit
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
Deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD), RCSD K-9s, and friends and supporters of RCSD and local law enforcement gathered at Columbia Flag & Sign Company in West Columbia for the first-ever “Dog-a-thon 2025” aimed at raising funds for K-9s and to replace dogs lost through natural causes or in the line-of-duty.
The event, held Thursday, Jan. 16, was attended by approximately 200 guests many stopping by to drop-off checks or to purchase RCSD merch from the Richland County Sheriff’s Foundation which donated 100-percent of their profits to the fundraiser.
The brainchild of David McGehee, owner of Columbia Flag & Sign; Dog-a-thon 2025 raised $50,000 with that number expected to rise over the coming weeks.
According to McGeehee, he was spurred to action upon learning of the death of RCSD’s K-9 Bumi who was shot and killed in the line-of-duty on Dec. 23. Bumi was the third RCSD K-9 lost in the line of duty over the previous 12 months.
McGehee then reached out to friends Keven Cohen, host of THE POINT (Radio Show); local fitness instructor and S.C. Black Belt Hall of Famer Bruce Brutschy; and Jim Wertman, owner of Carolina Honda. “I knew with these guys we could put something good together to help Sheriff Leon Lott and RCSD,” said McGeehee. “These guys love law enforcement and the military like I do. and they went to work on their contacts.”
That they did, pulling together scores of eager supporters willing to help purchase specialized dogs (to include training) for RCSD’s 20-plus-dog K-9 unit.
Brutschy, Wertman, Cohen, and Lott, were what McGeehee deemed his “dream team.”
Cohen held a live radio remote-broadcast at Columbia Flag & Sign where he interviewed Sheriff Lott and myriad supporters like Brutschy’s wife Jeanne Lorick Brutschy, president of Lorick Office Products who – like others – generously donated to the fundraiser.
Those individuals, companies, and organizations giving to Dog-a-thon 2025 included Philanthropist David Arnold, Jim Wertman and his Carolina Honda, Palmetto State Armory, Lorick Office Products, Columbia Flag & Sign, Cohen’s The Point Radio Show, Michaelis Mattress, All-American Heating and Air, St. Andrews Animal Clinic, Green Earth Services (David and Hazel Livingston), American Legion Post 6, Troop Appreciation Foundation (Mike Glover), Mike Genova and his students from Genova Family Karate, and many others.
“This sends a powerful message to all law enforcement that businesses and individuals truly and tangibly back-the-blue and support police officers and deputy sheriffs in their times of need,” said Bruce Brutschy.
At least nine K-9s including therapy dogs also attended from RCSD and other area law-enforcement agencies.
“The tremendous turnout and the amount of money raised speaks to the love and support we and our K-9s have in this and neighboring communities across central South Carolina,” said Sheriff Lott. “It has been a very hard several months for our department with these recent losses, but friends like this give us hope.”
Lott added: “The cost of a K-9 is approximately $18,000. But the value of their individual lives is priceless.”
For additional information about Dog-a-thon 2025 or to donate to the ongoing cause for K-9s, please phone David McGeehee at (803) 748-8524.
– Photographs by Deputy Jay Weaver.
