CMC Welcomes New K9 Officer, Boyka, to Enhance Hospital Safety
Conway Medical Center (CMC) proudly announces the newest addition to its security team—K9 Officer Boyka, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois. With Boyka officially on duty, CMC becomes only the second hospital in South Carolina to employ a K9 officer and the first in the region to do so.
The decision to bring Boyka to CMC came directly from employee feedback highlighting the importance of strengthening hospital safety. This initiative reflects the hospital’s commitment to providing a secure, welcoming environment for staff, patients, and visitors alike
Boyka’s journey to CMC is as remarkable as his service. Originally trained with the U.S. Army Special Forces, Boyka sustained an injury during training that resulted in the amputation of his tail. Despite this, his social nature and calm, levelheaded demeanor made him the perfect fit for a healthcare environment. Now, instead of working on the front lines of defense, Boyka will serve on the front lines of patient care—providing security, comfort, and connection within the hospital. When he’s not on duty, Boyka’s favorite game is a spirited game of tug-of-war.
Boyka is partnered with K9 Handler Shon McCluskey, a veteran officer who began his law enforcement career with the Myrtle Beach Police Department in 1997. Throughout his career, McCluskey worked in both traffic and K9 divisions, partnering with two dogs—a narcotics K9 named Daisy (a Belgian Malinois) and an explosives K9 named Goggles (a Lab-Heeler mix). After retiring in May, McCluskey joined CMC the very next day to continue his passion for safety and canine service.
Boyka and McCluskey underwent an intensive 6-week training program which is just like the training police dogs go through, obtaining the same certifications. “We worked 8-hour days, working on obedience, detection and protection,” said McCluskey. “We needed to ensure with Boyka that not only could he do his job, but that he was a safe dog to bring into the hospital environment. We needed to work on environmental and social aspects, attempting to put him in a successful situation upon return. Even though you can never mimic the CMC environment while training in Alabama, we tried to expose him to as much as possible to various environments, constantly observing his demeanor, ensuring he would be ready for work upon return.”
Since returning to CMC, Boyka and McCluskey continue training 16 hours every month to maintain their certifications and ensure Boyka is always prepared for his role at CMC. It is important to remember Boyka is a trained security dog, not a pet. These K9 officers should not be petted or approached unless given permission by the handler. The K9 is always on duty while in the hospital.
“We’re focused on creating the safest possible environment for our staff, patients, and visitors,” said Brian Argo, President and CEO of Conway Medical Center. “Our mission at Conway Medical Center has always been to deliver the best healthcare possible to our community. By creating a safer, more secure environment, we’re not just protecting our staff and patients – we’re enhancing our ability to provide top-tier care. A secure hospital is a hospital where healing can happen without interruption, where staff can focus fully on patient needs, and where our community can feel confident coming to us for care.”
These security enhancements will further solidify CMC’s place as the region’s leading healthcare provider, combining exceptional medical care with a state-of-the-art security infrastructure.
“I believe that having a K9 on scene at CMC is extremely valuable,” said McCluskey. “As a team, we may never know how many altercations we prevented, but if we can prevent one patient, visitor, or team member from being injured, we will have done our job. We want everyone who walks through the doors at CMC to know K9 Boyka is here to protect them, and hopefully that makes them feel safer.”
