KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com | Harris County deputy dies trying to rescue his dog

Harris County deputy dies trying to rescue his dog

Associated Press - June 11, 2010 9:15 AM ET

BAYTOWN, Texas (AP) - A Harris County sheriff's deputy died trying to rescue his family's dog from a canal.

The dog also perished.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Deputy Janie Wagner says the body of 51-year-old patrol Deputy Eddie Wotipka (woh-TIP'-kuh) was recovered from the water around 5 a.m. Friday. Wagner says the family's English bulldog drowned.

Wagner says Wotipka was still on duty but driving home late Thursday night, in the Baytown area, when he learned there were some dogs in a canal and that his own pet had jumped into the water. Wotipka went into the water to try to retrieve his dog.

Wagner says the deputy's wife then jumped in the water to try to save her spouse. Neighbors helped rescue the wife, who was not harmed.

Wagner says Wotipka had been with the sheriff's department since 1993.

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