POLICE K9 DIES AFTER BEING LEFT INSIDE HOT CAR OVERNIGHT BY DEPUTIES
Local community members in a small Missouri town are outraged after a police K9 tragically died after being left in a hot car overnight by deputies.
Chief David Vincent with the Savannah Police Department confirmed with local CBS affiliate KCTV on Sunday that the German shepherd, Horus, died on Thursday from health complications after being trapped in a car following an overnight shift.
While an investigation is ongoing, Horus' death is considered an accident.
Andrew County Prosecuting Attorney Monica J. Morrey said that she has requested a special investigation through the Missouri State Highway Patrol, according to a statement released Sunday.
'The Andrew County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is deeply saddened to learn of K-9 Horus' passing. We are grateful to him for his service to our community.'
Savannah is one of many towns that have been under advisory as a heat wave continues to sweep the nation.
Temperatures in Savannah have been staying at 88 and 90 degrees, with index values reaching up to 109 degrees, according to The Weather Channel.
Horus was one of the police department's four K9 units, and has been involved in the police department since February 2021, according to a Facebook post. KCTV reports that several new officers are set to start training next week.
The name of the officer who was supervising Horus has not been confirmed.
A statement from Vincent received by local Fox affiliate WDAF reads: 'Due to this being an open investigation, there will be no further information released until the investigation is completed. The entire department would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we deal with the loss of our partner, Horus.'
The department has not acknowledged the K9's death on their Facebook page, and the community has taken notice, slamming the department on its most recent posts.
'IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE PUBLIC DOES IT AND IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT NOW,' commented one user. 'We demand charges for the person who did this.'
'Can I leave your police officer in your car for 6 hrs [sic], without air conditioning? Oh, that's a crime? Weird,' said another.'
'You need to explain K9 Horus's death and let the public know how you will fix this, because nobody is going to let a dogs death go down like this. You have to address this,' demanded a user.
Someone who claimed to be a former police officer voiced his frustration as well, claiming that this 'was not an accident.'
'You don't leave your partner in a patrol vehicle without constantly checking on him' the user said. 'If nothing happens to the police officer, it's because he was connected to someone.'
The police station posted a photo on Facebook Sunday, the same day they announced Horus's death, of another missing dog roaming the town, which users found insensitive.
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