The Coweta County deputy killed in January has been named Officer of the Year by the local American Legion Post, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputy Eric Minix died Jan. 4 after being hit by an Alabama police officer’s patrol car as he stepped out of his own vehicle at the end of a chase, according to investigators. He was 31.
Coweta Sheriff Linn Wood presented the award Saturday to Minix’s wife, Trina.
“This award is not about how Eric died, but for all the great work he did while he was alive,” Wood said. “Trina shared him with us. Most of the work is late at night and early morning and their families shared them with us. He loved what he did and it showed in everything he did.”
Minix is also survived by three children.
Born in Covington, Minix graduated from Athens Police Academy in 2014 and began working for the Coweta sheriff’s office that March. After two years, he transferred to the Tyrone Police Department. In Tyrone, Minix became a K-9 handler to Bruno, who stayed with him after the dog’s retirement.
Credit: Coweta County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Coweta County Sheriff's Office
When Minix returned to the sheriff’s office, Bruno temporarily came out of retirement. Later, Minix was the hander for Robbi. Both dogs attended the deputy’s funeral.
“Eric loved his family, his kids and his job,” his father, Mark Minix, told those gathered at Crossroads Church in Sharpsburg for his funeral. “I never heard him once complain about having to get up and go to work.”
HOW TO HELP
A GoFundMe page has been created to benefit the Minix family.
Donations can also be made to the Georgia Police K9 Foundation at GApolicek9foundation.org or Concerns of Police Survivors at Gacops.org.
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