K9 handler issues apology after dog dies in
car
Tim Rearden
A K9 with the Montville Township Police
Department died from apparent heat stroke after he was left inside of a cruiser
on a warm day, according to Chief Terry Grice.
The dog's handler, Sgt. Brett Harrison, was
found to have violated policy and procedures and has been suspended from the
department.
According to the department, Sgt. Harrison
arrived on station on the morning of Sept. 28 and went inside police
headquarters to work on paperwork related to various cases.
Harrison left the 2-year-old dog, Beny, in
the cruiser and failed to leave the windows open. The car was turned off.
More than four hours later, Harrison returned
to the cruiser and discovered the dog laying lifeless in his rear passenger
compartment's kennel.
The temperature when the officer arrived on
station was 69 degrees and it was 79 degrees when the dog was found.
After a disciplinary hearing was conducted,
Harrison received a two week unpaid suspension and a loss of 40 hours of
vacation time.
The chief said Harrison was "completely
forthright and cooperative" during the hearing.
"This is a loss that words cannot
describe, and it is very difficult for everyone involved," said Chief
Terry Grice. "There is no doubt that this loss will have a lasting impact
on Sgt. Harrison and our entire department."
A statement from the department also said
that Sgt. Harrison cared deeply about
Beny. He worked with the dog more than
40 hour a week and Beny lived with Sgt. Harrison and his family when the two
were off duty. Sgt. Harrison was
overwhelmed with grief and is taking this loss very hard, the chief added.
Sgt. Harrison has been an exemplary officer
who has never received discipline since being hired onto the department on
Sept. 11, 2007. He came to the department after serving 10 years in the United
States Air National Guard, where he was deployed to Qatar during Operation
Enduring Freedom. Over the years, he has received awards and praise from law
enforcement leaders for his dedication in getting weapons, drugs, and impaired
drivers off the roads.
"While we worth though this tragedy, the
Montville Police Department remains committed to continuing our K9 program.
