Officer accused of leaving police dog in hot car

[~flower~]

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20622619/?GT1=10357


PHOENIX - A suburban police officer is accused of leaving a police dog in a patrol car for more than 12 hours on a 109-degree day, killing the animal.


Chandler police Sgt. Tom Lovejoy was booked into the Maricopa County jail on a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty after a two-week investigation into the death of a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois named Bandit. He was released later Wednesday, said Capt. Paul Chagolla, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s investigation showed Bandit was in Lovejoy’s patrol car from about 9 a.m. to shortly after 10 p.m. Aug. 11. During that time, the investigation found, the officer ran errands, napped and ate out with his wife. Lovejoy later found the dog dead in the car.

“I am certain Sgt. Lovejoy has suffered greatly from leaving his police dog in a sweltering car,” Sheriff Joe Arpaio said in a statement. “I do not relish the idea of compounding his sadness. However, Lovejoy must be treated like anyone else in similar circumstances.”

Lovejoy said Wednesday night that he is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 25 and that his lawyer advised him not to comment further.

“With the sheriff railing on me right now, it’s kind of hard to say anything,” Lovejoy said.

Chandler Police Chief Sherry Kiyler said in a statement that the department respects and supports the criminal justice system and its processes, and that an internal investigation has been launched.

[ieffinhatecardio]

And this mental midget is a police officer? This moron sounds like just the type of person that should be enforcing the law of the land.

[~flower~]

Too bad that AC guy from that other story hadn't of found the dog, cuffed the cop to his car, and then the cop gets beat on by an angry crowd.


     


 109 degree day?  Idiots are protecting us? 

[Geo]

The sheriff’s investigation showed Bandit was in Lovejoy’s patrol car from about 9 a.m. to shortly after 10 p.m. Aug. 11. During that time, the investigation found, the officer ran errands, napped and ate out with his wife. Lovejoy later found the dog dead in the car.

oops

[knny187]

I was just thinking the same thing....


cuff him to the car

[WOOO]

what a f*****g idiot... poor puppy!

[Vet]

I've worked with canine police in 5 states---Missouri, Kentucky (alot of work there), Ohio (alot of work there), New York (some) and Alabama.     In not one place where I've worked would a K-9 officer do this to his partner. 

The one question i've got is was the car running--ie with the air on or not at any time during that day.  Its not uncommon for the dogs I've worked with to spend days like that in the car---but the car is left running with the air on.   If that isn't the case then this is not "like anyone else in such circumstances".  This cop should be removed from the force.   No debate, no questions asked.   He killed another officer of the law.    Its that simple. 

[~flower~]

It doesn't sound like he was on duty when this happened, he could of left the dog at home, why was the dog in the car in the first place for that whole time period?  12 hours?!?   I look at it that he killed his partner too.

 Unless the air was on in the car the WHOLE time, we all know on a 109deg day it will heat up pretty quickly once it is turned off again.

 

"During that time, the investigation found, the officer ran errands, napped and ate out with his wife."

[Geo]

I've worked with canine police in 5 states---Missouri, Kentucky (alot of work there), Ohio (alot of work there), New York (some) and Alabama.     In not one place where I've worked would a K-9 officer do this to his partner. 

The one question i've got is was the car running--ie with the air on or not at any time during that day.  Its not uncommon for the dogs I've worked with to spend days like that in the car---but the car is left running with the air on.   If that isn't the case then this is not "like anyone else in such circumstances".  This cop should be removed from the force.   No debate, no questions asked.   He killed another officer of the law.    Its that simple. 

ten bucks says he got hammered and went to bed,it's had to believe a cop could just absent mindedly forget about the dog for that length of time

[WOOO]

It doesn't sound like he was on duty when this happened, he could of left the dog at home, why was the dog in the car in the first place for that whole time period?  12 hours?!?   I look at it that he killed his partner too.

 Unless the air was on in the car the WHOLE time, we all know on a 109deg day it will heat up pretty quickly once it is turned off again.

 

"During that time, the investigation found, the officer ran errands, napped and ate out with his wife."

even if the air was on the whole time there is still the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust...

people who leave pets in cars should be shot...

if you find a pet inconvinient then DON'T GET ONE

[Vet]

ten bucks says he got hammered and went to bed,it's had to believe a cop could just absent mindedly forget about the dog for that length of time

I flat out dont' believe it.  If he did, he's not like any K-9 I've ever met.   The ones I know live with their dogs and pretty much for their dogs.  They work as a team and the human part wouldn't be that stupid. 

[~flower~]

I flat out dont' believe it.  If he did, he's not like any K-9 I've ever met.   The ones I know live with their dogs and pretty much for their dogs.  They work as a team and the human part wouldn't be that stupid. 

So what possible excuse could he have?  He forgot he took him with him?  His culture? 

  I would think living in Phoenix you know not to leave any living thing in the car for any period of time. 

[24KT]

Does Arizona have the death penalty for killing a police officer? ...cause that's exactly what he did.