K-9 dies after being left in handler’s hot patrol car “Video”

A Conyers K-9 officer has died after being left in a hot patrol car. Its handler has been placed on paid leave pending an internal investigation, Conyers police announced on Friday.

Police say officer Jerahmy Williams drove home sick in a take-home police car at the end of his overnight shift Thursday morning. Police say he neglected to take his K-9, who lived with Williams, out of the back of the car. Police say the 5-year-old bloodhound named Zane died after spending seven hours in the back of Williams’s patrol car Thursday as temperatures approached the 90s.

Police say the distraught officer discovered the dog when he went to the car to report back to work Thursday night.

“He truly, truly loves that dog. And for him to know that it was his actions that caused the dog to perish, its going to be difficult for him to deal with,” said Conyers police chief Gene Wilson.

Williams has worked for the police department for nearly five years and spent three years as Zane’s handler.

“We are committed to the care and proper treatment of our working K9s. We are mourning the loss of our own,” Conyers Police Chief Gene Wilson said in a statement.

But Wilson says Williams will face internal disciplinary charges. The Rockdale County Sheriff’s office is handling the criminal investigation. Possible charges include reckless conduct and animal cruelty. Wilson says Williams has a clean disciplinary record in his five years at Conyers PD.

Agencies/Canadajournal