K-9's Death In Hot Car 'Terrible Mistake'
Columbia County Deputy Suspended For 15 Days
POSTED: Tuesday, July 13, 2010
UPDATED: 9:37 pm EDT July 13, 2010
Columbia County Sheriff's Office K-9 Brutus
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter said the death of a K-9 drug dog was the result of a horrible mistake.
Brutus died last month after his handler, Deputy Randy Harrison, left him in a hot SUV with the engine off and the windows up.
An internal affairs report accused the deputy of neglect of duty and failing to exercise diligence.
Hunter said the deputy had received bad news on a family member's health and was stressed at the time he left the dog in the SUV. According to the Sheriff's Office, the deputy had not had any complaints filed against him and was a good officer.
"He got some bad news, was running late and made a terrible mistake," Hunter said. "This is a tragic accident."
According to an investigation, Harrison realized he left the dog in the car for several hours in the late afternoon. The deputy told detectives he found Brutus in the backseat of his patrol car and tried to revive him, but was dead.
Video: Officer Suspended In K-9's Accidental Death
Harrison was suspended for 15 days without pay and will no longer be allowed to be a K-9 officer.
The sheriff called the discipline "very stern."
"I've looked at the entire person, the agency, and we're going to grow from this," Hunter said.
Some have criticized the Sheriff's Office for not letting the public know earlier there was an investigation going on.
"They shouldn't have to wait four weeks to know this happened," Columbia County resident Rudolph Davis Sr. said. "They should have released to the media that we have an officer that had left his dog in the car and the dog is deceased. There is an internal investigation taking place."
A press release from Sgt. Ed Seifert last month stated:
"On June 10, 2010, a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 was found deceased by its handler. K-9 Brutus, a 5 year old golden Labrador was discovered at his home at approximately 5:00 p.m. In accordance with agency protocols, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has initiated an internal investigation into the death of Brutus. Foul play or malicious intent is not expected to be a factor in the untimely death of Brutus. Upon completion of the internal investigation, additional details will be released."
Hunter said the reason more details weren't disclosed was to maintain the purity of the investigation. He said the investigation report is now public record, and is available for anyone to see at the Sheriff's Office.
Channel 4 tried to contact Deputy Harrison, but his phone number and address were not publicly listed.
Columbia County Deputy Suspended For 15 Days
POSTED: Tuesday, July 13, 2010
UPDATED: 9:37 pm EDT July 13, 2010
Columbia County Sheriff's Office K-9 Brutus
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter said the death of a K-9 drug dog was the result of a horrible mistake.
Brutus died last month after his handler, Deputy Randy Harrison, left him in a hot SUV with the engine off and the windows up.
An internal affairs report accused the deputy of neglect of duty and failing to exercise diligence.
Hunter said the deputy had received bad news on a family member's health and was stressed at the time he left the dog in the SUV. According to the Sheriff's Office, the deputy had not had any complaints filed against him and was a good officer.
"He got some bad news, was running late and made a terrible mistake," Hunter said. "This is a tragic accident."
According to an investigation, Harrison realized he left the dog in the car for several hours in the late afternoon. The deputy told detectives he found Brutus in the backseat of his patrol car and tried to revive him, but was dead.
Video: Officer Suspended In K-9's Accidental Death
Harrison was suspended for 15 days without pay and will no longer be allowed to be a K-9 officer.
The sheriff called the discipline "very stern."
"I've looked at the entire person, the agency, and we're going to grow from this," Hunter said.
Some have criticized the Sheriff's Office for not letting the public know earlier there was an investigation going on.
"They shouldn't have to wait four weeks to know this happened," Columbia County resident Rudolph Davis Sr. said. "They should have released to the media that we have an officer that had left his dog in the car and the dog is deceased. There is an internal investigation taking place."
A press release from Sgt. Ed Seifert last month stated:
"On June 10, 2010, a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 was found deceased by its handler. K-9 Brutus, a 5 year old golden Labrador was discovered at his home at approximately 5:00 p.m. In accordance with agency protocols, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has initiated an internal investigation into the death of Brutus. Foul play or malicious intent is not expected to be a factor in the untimely death of Brutus. Upon completion of the internal investigation, additional details will be released."
Hunter said the reason more details weren't disclosed was to maintain the purity of the investigation. He said the investigation report is now public record, and is available for anyone to see at the Sheriff's Office.
Channel 4 tried to contact Deputy Harrison, but his phone number and address were not publicly listed.