Westerville City Council voted unanimously, Tuesday night, to officially retire K9 officer, Sam, and let him go home with his partner's family: the family of Westerville police officer, Eric Joering.
Joering's wife and three young daughters were there to receive their dad's K9. One of the girls wore Sam's police badge around her neck.
Officer Joering and Officer Anthony Morelli were killed in the line of duty, Saturday, Feb. 10, after responding to a 911 hang-up call.
"There's nothing better than those three girls getting to be with that dog," Westerville Police Chief, Joe Morbitzer, said.
Morbitzer says he recognizes the comfort value the family and Sam will be for each other in this time of grieving.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, Otterbein University Chief of Staff Kristi Robbins announced the university will be offering full-tuition scholarships for each of Joering's daughters.