A New Jersey officer has been criminally charged with causing the death of two police dogs by leaving the pair locked inside a hot patrol car.
Cody Henderson, a K-9 handler in Salem County, is facing multiple charges related to the deaths of police dogs Rip and Boomer, who were allegedly left inside his hot car for about seven hours on 29 May.
According to prosecutors, Henderson left them with the car turned off, and with no proper ventilation on the 81F (27C) day.
A parked vehicle can rapidly heat up on a hot day. Experts say that leaving a window slightly open does very little to help, and that anyone who sees a dog suffering inside a car on a hot day should call emergency services.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office said Henderson “has been formally charged in connection with the deaths of his assigned canine partners”.
He is charged with animal cruelty, failure to provide care to a living animal, and unlawfully restraining an animal in dangerous conditions.
Rip (a four-year-old Belgian Malinois), and Boomer (a six-year-old Springer Spaniel) are being mourned by the community, which was left wondering how they died for months before charges were filed this week.
“Rip and Boomer exemplified the highest standards of service, loyalty, and dedication,” the Salem County Sheriff’s Office wrote on social media on Wednesday.
“The loss of these loyal partners has had a profound impact on our agency, our law enforcement community, and the citizens they faithfully served,” the statement added.
Rip was trained to detect narcotics, while Boomer was trained in bomb detection.
A Facebook post announcing their deaths in late May has had over 700 interactions. The post praised the dogs, saying: “Their loyalty, service, and dedication to protecting the residents of Salem County will never be forgotten.”
The post also asked that residents, “please keep our K-9 handler and his family, along with our entire K-9 unit, in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
The post did not name Henderson, or suggest that he had any role in their deaths.
Henderson is on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the case, and is scheduled to appear in court on 30 July.
