St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office K9 Deuce was honored as Officer of the Month by the St. John Business Association during the group’s Aug. 9 meeting at Petra’s in LaPlace.

Deuce and his handler, Deputy Kendel Harris, were recognized for outstanding work during an attempted suicide investigation.

Deuce and Deputy Harris assisted the SJSO Special Operations Division July 4 with the search for a missing man with suicidal thoughts and armed with a handgun in the Ruddock area.

Harris released Deuce from the rear of his unit and gave the command to track.

Deuce picked up the man’s scent and tracked him to a location in the woods, where the man was found.

The man was detained without incident, and officers collected the weapon that was nearby.