Police dog recovers, returns to service

A police dog is back to work after nearly a month of rest recovering from wounds it suffered during a deadly December standoff in Beaumont.

The California Highway Patrol said the canine, named “Ranger,” returned to service January 3, again riding in his patrol car and hard at work on the beat.

The dog was shot in the shoulder and right paw December 10 while attempting to arrest a man who’d barricaded himself at a Beaumont home.

The CHP Beaumont office said Monday, Ranger was cleared to return to work after a surgery to amputate a toe on his right foot then nearly a month of rest.

The K-9 was thoroughly evaluated indicating he was ready to return to patrol.

Chandler Cardwell, 38, of Beaumont died when police shot him during the standoff.

Police said they released Ranger on Cardwell when Cardwell threatened to kill his wife and young child and began trying to break into the home where they had been hiding from him.

Police said Cardwell shot the dog one time before officers returned fire striking Cardwell.

He died from his injuries.

No one else was injured during the standoff.