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<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>> THE ROTARY CLUB OF FORT MYERS SOUTH IS ABOUT TO NAME ITS OFFICER OF THE YEAR. ALL WEEK. WE’VE BEEN INTRODUCING YOU TO THE 5 FINALISTS. THE FINAL NOMINEE HAS TURNED HIS SKILLS ON THE BASEBALL FIELD INTO A CAREER AS A CANINE OFFICER. IT WAS A DRAMATIC ENDING TO ONE OF THE MOST VICIOUS CRIMES IN RECENT MEMORY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. >> LAST SEPTEMBER, A MAN MURDERED HIS OWN MOTHER. POLICE CHASED HIM FROM THE CRIME SCENE IN CAPE CORAL, OVERWEIGHT IN NORTH NAPLES, CAPE CORAL POLICE OFFICER, TRAVIS HARRISON AND HIS CANINE VAN GOT THERE FIRST. YOU KNOW, EVEN THE POLICE DOGS, THEY THEY CAN BE DIFFERENT. >> SOME ARE A LITTLE MORE COUGH AND SOME JUST GET THE BAD GUY. 24 7. AND THAT’S HARRISON HAS BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR NEARLY 5 YEARS. >> BEFORE THAT, HE WAS A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER IN THE TWINS ORGANIZATION. I PLAYED 3RD BASE AND THEN LIKE CORNER OUTFIELD SPOT. YEAH, THAT WAS FUN. I WAS SUPER LUCKY AND AND >> GOT TO DO A LOT OF FUN THINGS NOW I GET TO THEY SAY. I’VE LIVED A LIFE OF THE GEM OF LIKE EVERY FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY. HIS ATHLETICISM HAS BEEN A MAJOR ASSET IS A CANINE OFFICER BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT SLOWING DOWN MOST OF TIME. AND TO CATCH PEOPLE, YOU GOT TO MOVE QUICKLY. OFFICER HARRISON AND VAN RECENTLY RECEIVED THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD RECOGNIZING THEIR VALOR, SKILL AND DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY. AND NOW HE’S A FINALIST FOR OFFICER OF THE YEAR. IT’S SUCH AN HONOR REALLY IS. I MEAN, IT’S ALL HAPPENED PRETTY QUICKLY. YOU KNOW, THE HARD WORK PUT IN THE TRAINER’S. IT’S ALL IT ALL PAID OFF. >> THE ROTARY CLUB FORT MYERS SOUTH WILL NAME THE OFFICER OF THE YEAR AT ALICO ARENA TOMORROW NIGHT DURING THE LONG ORDER BALL. KELLY AND I WILL BE THERE AS THE EMCEES. >> TICKETS A\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Cape Coral officer and K-9 recognized for valor, named finalist for Officer of the Year<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tUpdated: 7:00 PM EDT Apr 17, 2026\n\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\tEditorial Standards \u24d8<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\tCape Coral police Officer Travis Harrison and his K-9 partner Van are finalists for the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South\u2019s Officer of the Year award, which will be announced tomorrow night at Alico Arena during the Law and Order Ball. Last September, Harrison and Van were involved in a dramatic police takedown following a murder in Cape Coral, where a man killed his own mother. The chase extended from Cape Coral to North Naples, with Harrison and Van arriving first at the scene. “You know, even the police dogs, they can be different. Some are a little calmer, and some just want to get the bad guy 24\/7, and that’s him,” Harrison said, referring to Van. Harrison has been a police officer for nearly five years, but before joining the force, he was a minor league baseball player in the Twins organization. “I played third base, and then, like, corner outfield spot. Yeah, that was fun. I was super lucky in that and got to do a lot of fun things. And now I get to do this. So they say I’ve lived the life of the dream of, like, every 5-year-old boy,” Harrison said. His athleticism has proven to be a significant advantage in his role as a K-9 officer. “Because they’re not slowing down most of the time. And so to catch people, you’ve got to move quickly,” Harrison said. Recently, Harrison and Van received the Meritorious Service Award, which recognizes their valor, skill, and dedication to public safety. “It’s such an honor. It really is. I mean, it’s all happening pretty quickly. You know, the hard work that the guys over there put in, the trainers, it all paid off,” Harrison said. The Rotary Club of Fort Myers South will name the Officer of the Year Saturday night at Alico Arena during the Law and Order Ball.DOWNLOAD\u202fthe free\u202fGulf Coast News app\u202ffor your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tCAPE CORAL, Fla. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Cape Coral police Officer Travis Harrison and his K-9 partner Van are finalists for the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South\u2019s Officer of the Year award, which will be announced tomorrow night at Alico Arena during the Law and Order Ball. <\/p>\n Last September, Harrison and Van were involved in a dramatic police takedown following a murder in Cape Coral, where a man killed his own mother<\/a>. The chase extended from Cape Coral to North Naples, with Harrison and Van arriving first at the scene. <\/p>\n “You know, even the police dogs, they can be different. Some are a little calmer, and some just want to get the bad guy 24\/7, and that’s him,” Harrison said, referring to Van. <\/p>\n Harrison has been a police officer for nearly five years, but before joining the force, he was a minor league baseball player in the Twins organization. <\/p>\n “I played third base, and then, like, corner outfield spot. Yeah, that was fun. I was super lucky in that and got to do a lot of fun things. And now I get to do this. So they say I’ve lived the life of the dream of, like, every 5-year-old boy,” Harrison said. <\/p>\n His athleticism has proven to be a significant advantage in his role as a K-9 officer. <\/p>\n “Because they’re not slowing down most of the time. And so to catch people, you’ve got to move quickly,” Harrison said. <\/p>\n Recently, Harrison and Van received the Meritorious Service Award, which recognizes their valor, skill, and dedication to public safety. <\/p>\n “It’s such an honor. It really is. I mean, it’s all happening pretty quickly. You know, the hard work that the guys over there put in, the trainers, it all paid off,” Harrison said. <\/p>\n The Rotary Club of Fort Myers South will name the Officer of the Year Saturday night at Alico Arena during the Law and Order Ball.<\/p>\n DOWNLOAD\u202fthe free\u202fGulf Coast News app<\/a>\u202ffor your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app<\/a> to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":">> THE ROTARY CLUB OF FORT MYERS SOUTH IS ABOUT TO NAME ITS OFFICER OF THE YEAR. 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