Deputy Floyd Cardenas, 41, who was assigned to the SWAT K-9 unit, was found unresponsive by his family Thursday morning, Sheriff Javier Salazar says.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office dedicated a North Side facility that houses the department’s SWAT and special operations units after a deputy who died exactly one year ago.
The Floyd M. Cardenas Law Enforcement Annex was unveiled with the namesake’s family, state and law enforcement officials present Friday morning at 15903 University Oak.
Sheriff Javier Salazar said although it was a solemn occasion, it was the celebration of a “hero.”
“We talk about ‘a hero remembered never dies,’ and it sounds like a catchphrase, but we live it,” Salazar said. “For generations to come, SWAT operators are going to work out of this facility and proudly say ‘I work at the Floyd Cardenas building,’ and it’s going to mean something to them.”
Deputy Floyd Manuel Cardenas, 41, died in his sleep last year on Aug. 19. An 18-year veteran of the force and head trainer for the K-9 unit, Cardenas worked with his K-9 partner Tango for about six years on more than 100 federal, state and local investigations.
Cardenas’ wife, Kimberly, was present with their two children, Cayleb and Jayden. She fought back tears as she addressed a briefing room full of SWAT deputies and command staff.
“Everyone that knew him knew that he was 120 percent committed to the county and the deputies and K-9s,” Cardenas said. She said his partner Tango is enjoying his retirement at their home, dutifully watching over the family in her husband’s absence.
Command staff and deputies who spoke during the ceremony described Cardenas as a driven deputy who was eager to partner with a K-9 unit and greatly deserving of the honor. Assistant Chief Deputy Roland Schuler said Cardenas becoming a K-9 unit deputy was a “game changer.”
“That was really something that made us all proud, and Floyd was proud to bring his dog to work every day,” Schuler said.
The deputy had been on call for about 36 hours, training with Tango before assisting another K-9 deputy with a search the night he died.
“His commitment was ‘I’ll go home, but I’ll help first,’ “ Schuler said. “Everyone who remembers Floyd knows he never turned his back on anyone.”