Tunnel to Towers Foundation Unveils Smart Home Renovations for Injured K9 Deputy

Honoring the service and sacrifice of Jasper County K9 Deputy Heather Betz 

October 21, 2025 [MELBOURNE, FLORIDA] — The Tunnel to Towers Foundation honored the service and sacrifice of Jasper County, South Carolina, K9 Deputy Heather Betz by transforming her Melbourne, Florida, home into a smart home customized to meet her unique needs and restore her independence.

During a private ceremony at her home, Tunnel to Towers surprised Deputy Betz with the announcement that the Foundation had paid off the remainder of her mortgage, relieving her and her husband of a major financial burden.

“This is humbling…it’s a huge weight off my shoulders. For so long to have doors slammed in your face to have someone come in and do all of this, I have no words, just a feeling it’s amazing,” said Deputy Betz. 

Inspired by her foster father, a K9 officer, Deputy Betz pursued a career in law enforcement to be a voice for the voiceless.

“I wanted to be the police officer who listened. I wanted to be the police officer who would be the eyes, ears, and voice for those who didn’t have one or weren’t strong enough. I’d rather help one victim than arrest 100 bad guys,” said Deputy Betz. 

On Thanksgiving Day in 2018, while responding to a domestic disturbance involving an active shooter, Deputy Betz exchanged gunfire with the suspect. She struck him twice before being shot in the head. Deputy Betz saved lives, as the suspect took his own life after being gravely injured by Deputy Betz.

Deputy Betz suffered severe damage to her right eye, leaving her blind, with a traumatic brain injury, and she suffers from ongoing migraines and extreme dizziness. She has suffered numerous complications and surgeries over the last seven years. 

Forced to medically retire, she and her husband relocated from South Carolina to Florida to start a new chapter in their lives. Now, with the help of Tunnel to Towers, that new chapter begins with a safe, accessible home and peace of mind of not having to worry about a mortgage. 

“Tunnel to Towers has given us a home that will work for me, and my husband and I won’t have to worry about how we’re going to pay our bills. Tunnel to Towers assistance is truly a life changer,” said Deputy Betz. 

To meet her specific needs, the Foundation completed extensive smart home renovations, including:

• Tinted windows and soft interior lighting to reduce sensitivity to light
• Smart home systems allow remote control of lighting and brightness via app or smart panel
• Pull-down shelving in the kitchen and laundry room for easy access
• Pull-down closet rods in the master bedroom
• A walk-in therapy tub to help manage daily chronic pain
• Whole-home generator for emergency preparedness

The Tunnel to Towers Smart Home Program builds specially-adapted, mortgage-free smart homes or renovates existing homes to help our most catastrophically injured veterans and first responders reclaim their day-to-day independence. For more information and to support the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s mission to build smart homes for America’s heroes, visit T2T.org and consider donating just $11 per month.