Police Officer Kills his K-9 Partner

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20622619/

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.


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What the fuck kind of moron does this.

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.”




Now correct me if I'm wrong, but if your avaerage Joe kicks a police dog he is charged with Assault on a Law Enforcment Officer. This dumb cop killed the dog. If he is to be "treated like anyone else" he needs to be charged with Murder of a Law Enforcment Offcer, or negligent homicide at the very least. But no, he got charged with misdemeanor cruelty to an animal and was released from the jail within hours of being arrested. Fuck that.

 

That's insane... police dogs are considered police - NOT pets. The poor dog!
love,
mom

 

That's so fucked up!

However, I don't really agree with having the penalties for injuring a law enforcement animal being as strict as if you injured a human police officer. BUT the laws are that way, so as Deadalus said, if it were anyone else they would be charged with killing an officer.

 

I do agree that rationally, it should be treated that way

but really, this guy must feel like shit, thos guys tend to get pretty close to their dogs
I feel a little bit sorry for the inconsiderate moron

 

Dude should be left in a hot container and left to dehydrate to death.

I don't see why he should be able to get away with it.

 

I don't think he was very close to the dog if he left it in the car for 12 hours. Goddammit that is bullshit. He should've faced harsher penalties.

 

Our K-9 patrol cars in this area are pretty cool....the back windows have these giant cooling fans that pull the breeze through the vehicle and area equipped with ignition over-ride that allows that vehicle to remain running with the A/C on when no one is in it....pretty cool.

 

I don't have a lot of respect for cops, although there has got to be a lot of variety one to the next. This piece didn't help my attitude any. Then again, there are no doubt a lot of non-cops that are just as ignorant as this guy was. I hope the guy gets the full treatment from the justice system.

He's a K-9 cop and the dog is his most important partner. Also, the weather is hot even by Phoenix standards. So, where's the excuse.

I am a dog owner (husky). Every time I leave the dog outside a cafe, a business or anywhere, I make sure (1) he's not left in the car unless it's snowing or raining, (2) he has a bowl of water, (3) he's securely leashed.

 

When it comes down to it....people leave animals in shitty conditions on a daily basis...and hundreds of animals die each day due to human stupidity....of course, since this person is "in the public eye" it's brought to the surface.

Hopefully, this person will be treated the same way he would have been had he shot another human officer due to carelessness.

 

this guy sounds like an irresponsible nitwit. there's no way he should be trusted to be a cop.

 

I've been searching for updates every week or so since this happened and haven't seen shit. How much do you want to bet that as soon as the public outcry died down the charges were quietly swept under the rug . . .


I really hope someone proves me wrong on this part . . .

 

I am pretty sure he was fired. But I will check with a friend that works at city call. He will know. Once I find out I will post and update.

 

Ignorant? Don't you think he was trained to care for the dog properly. He wasn't ignorant, just an inconsiderate, self absorbed shit.

 

Update: Captain dipshit got 2 days suspension without pay and no criminal charges. Who'd have thought that police officers are above the law . . . .

 

they're not going to give him another dog are they?

 

Fortunatly no. He apparently bought a new dog for the department to train but was told he would not be allowed to work with it and was reassigned . . .