An Ohio cop could face animal cruelty charges after a police dog he
left in his cruiser died from heat stroke.
The Montville Township Police Department K-9 officer, Beny, died on
Sept. 28 after Sgt. Brett Harrison left him in a police car with the windows
rolled up for more than four hours on a hot day.
Harrison had parked the cruiser outside the police department and
thought he'd left the car on, he said later.
He found the lifeless, 2-year-old German Shepherd's lifeless body at
around 3:15 p.m,
It was about 80 degrees out.
The police department referred the case to the Medina County Society
for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which will decide
whether Harrison will face criminal charges.
The non-profit group's humane officers have prosecutorial powers in
cases involving animal cruelty, Cleveland.com reported.
Harrison, an Air National Guard Vet who joined the department in 2007,
released a statement Tuesday saying he was overwhelmed with grief over his
beloved pup's death.
"Most of all, I want to say I'm sorry to my partner, friend and
loving family member Beny. I wish every day that I could go back and change
that day or that I could put myself in your place," Harrison said.
"You will always be in my heart and I will miss you every second
of every day.
Police Chief Terry Grice has backed Harrison, saying that the dog's
death was an accident and that security camera footage showed Harrison freaking
out upon finding the dog.
Harrison has been suspended for two weeks without pay and was also
docked vacation hours, Cleveland.com reported.
He's will be reassigned, though won't be given another police dog,
Grice told Cleveland.com.
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