Dexter, Missouri – There is widespread outrage over the sentencing of a former Dexter Police Officer who was charged after an active-duty police K9 in his care starved to death, and another retired K9 was found severely neglected. Derrick A. Durall, formerly a K-9 handler, faced two felony animal abuse charges, and two misdemeanor animal neglect charges, stemming from the death of K9 Apollo, and retired K-9 Knox.
On August 24, 2026, Durrall pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor animal abuse and was sentenced to one year in the Dunklin County Jail. But the judge suspended execution of the sentence and placed him on two years of supervised probation instead. Because of the suspension, Durall faced just 15 days behind bars.
Durall was responsible for the department’s active K-9, Apollo, as well as retired K-9 Knox. Both dogs were housed in separate kennels at Durall’s home and the department provided the kennels and food. Durall was entrusted the care of these K9s, yet one dog died at just 41.6 pounds after losing approximately 25 pounds, while the other survived with severe heartworms, severely worn teeth and significant weight loss.
Timeline
December 2020: Durall becomes a Dexter Police Department K-9 handler.
September 2023: Apollo’s previous veterinary visit; he weighed roughly 25 pounds more than he would at his death.
December 18, 2023: Durall is injured and later returns to light duty without Apollo.
February 18, 2024: Apollo is found dead in his kennel. Veterinary examination reveals severe malnutrition and dehydration; he weighs 41.6 pounds.
April 1, 2024: Dexter terminates Durall’s employment.
April 2024: He is charged with two felony animal-abuse counts and two misdemeanor animal-neglect counts.
February 2026: Jury trial scheduled for June following Durall’s not-guilty plea.
August 24, 2026: Durall pleads guilty to two misdemeanor animal-abuse counts and receives the suspended one-year sentence, 15 days actual jail time, two years’ probation and $8,900 restitution.
Durrall became a K-9 handler for the Dexter Police Department in December 2020, and he was fired on April 1, 2024.
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77 Comments
I’m sorry but this is not justice! And article states the police department even paid for their food! Ridiculous! How can he starve a poor defenseless animal and severely neglect another and still not be in jail? Ridiculous justice. One poor dog died after giving his life for the Police and another one severely neglected! Is that what you think these animals are worth? They gave their best years to be put in a horrible home! He should serve time for that and should have been fired a long time ago!!!!
I’m sorry but this is not justice! And article states the police department even paid for their food! Ridiculous! How can he starve a poor defenseless animal and severely neglect another and still not be in jail? Ridiculous justice. One poor dog died after giving his life for the Police and another one severely neglected! Is that what you think these animals are worth? They gave their best years to be put in a horrible home! He should serve time for that and should have been fired a long time ago!!!!
He should have gotten at least 10 years in prison, a big fine and no contact with any animal ever again. This slap on the hands is not enough punishment for this POS. He should never be allowed to work as a police officer again and certainly should never be allowed to have any contact with any animals ever again.
He should have gotten at least 10 years in prison, a big fine and no contact with any animal ever again. This slap on the hands is not enough punishment for this POS. He should never be allowed to work as a police officer again and certainly should never be allowed to have any contact with any animals ever again.
This is so bad I can’t say what I would like to say.poor animal.
This is so bad I can’t say what I would like to say.poor animal.
I hear about abuse and neglect of police dogs by officers all of the time. This should never be the new normal- it’s animal cruelty and police officers are not above the law.
It’s not the “new normaI.” It has been THEIR normaI from the beginning. Its just that with new tech in the hands of those who are brave enough to become whistIebIowers, the pubIic is finaIIy getting a glimpse of what goes on in k9 units
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I pray that the whoIe truth comes into the Iight soon, and everyone can see what I have witnessed (and researched), and was harassed (and had attempts made on my Iife) for exposing in my community,
It’s not the “new normaI.” It has been THEIR normaI from the beginning. Its just that with new tech in the hands of those who are brave enough to become whistIebIowers, the pubIic is finaIIy getting a glimpse of what goes on in k9 units
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I pray that the whoIe truth comes into the Iight soon, and everyone can see what I have witnessed (and researched), and was harassed (and had attempts made on my Iife) for exposing in my community,
Was this asshole not required to bring these animals to training periodically ? If not why not because if he had the state of these dogs would have raised concerns long before they suffered the way they did at the hands of this sorry excuse for a Cop. Firing this guy was the thing to do, giving him the lenient sentence was a travesty of justice. This fucker probably abused other animals before this and what is really sad and concerning. he will probably do it again because he basically got away with it. A pox on this guy.
S
You shouId see what goes on in the “periodic training.” (usuaIIy weekIy). The barbaric “training” techniques (punching, kicking, “heIicoptering,” sIow hanging to unconsciousness, etc.). are taught and required. AND, because of that, what sort of peopIe do you beIieve are attracted to becoming handIers? One word: sadists.
And sadists don’t Iimit their crueIty to once a week, either.
In the department where I worked, a new handIer showed empathy for his dog, so he was kicked out of the k9 unit, and taunted within the department for a Iong time afterwards. The dog was, of course, taken away from him, and given to someone who wouId gIeefuIIy torture it.
In researching this, I Iearned it is THE STANDARD. And there is even more to this nasty and covered up for cuIt.
Deliberately starving an animal in your care is grounds for the same treatment to the POS that committed the crime. Deliberate cruelty should be a felony charge not a misdemeanor. His picture is out there, hopefully karma will step up and take care of the problem.
Absolute truth! Hope Karma will provide !
Absolute truth! Hope Karma will provide !
Should have been him instead of the pup.
TOTALLY WORTHLESS POS JUDGE!!!!!!!!!!
ABSOLUTELY!!!
This is outrageous! That piece of shit didn’t deserve any mercy yet he got it!
How does this happen? He purposely let two animals suffer in his care. What kind of justice is that?He definitely needs to be on the animal registry and his picture all over town showing what a piece of shit he is..
It is the cuIture within the departments. It is the whistIebIowrs who are punished, not the perpetrators.
Look at this Police officer & what he did to 2 police dogs he purposely starved them to death and only got fifteen days
My thoughts
A policeman Officer Derrick Durell out of Missouri starved to death his 2 police dogs in his backyard and all he got was 14 days that’s what their lives were worth doesn’t seem right … they were policedogs too but more than that they were innocent beings free of sin and only there to serve & protect us
They did not die in the line of duty an honorable death for them
These 2 Dogs were murdered by their partner & fellow officer
This was not animal abuse, this was murder.
My heart is more than broken it aches for their beautiful free spirit dogs are born to love us stand beside us in this life not to be tortured to death by someone that they loved
Look at this Police officer & what he did to 2 police dogs he purposely starved them to death and only got fifteen days
My thoughts
A policeman Officer Derrick Durell out of Missouri starved to death his 2 police dogs in his backyard and all he got was 14 days that’s what their lives were worth doesn’t seem right … they were policedogs too but more than that they were innocent beings free of sin and only there to serve & protect us
They did not die in the line of duty an honorable death for them
These 2 Dogs were murdered by their partner & fellow officer
This was not animal abuse, this was murder.
My heart is more than broken it aches for their beautiful free spirit dogs are born to love us stand beside us in this life not to be tortured to death by someone that they loved
Shame on the justice system in Dexter, Missouri! What happened to the 2 felony charges?! Apparently in Missouri K9 animals are chattel and can be abused without consequence to the abuser! Hopefully he’s not married and doesn’t have children, because apparently, as an officer he can torture living beings and not be held accountable.
this is ridiculous sentencing for such a horrific crime…. 15 days anit shit…. should have been 15 yrs…. and then some…. please lets hope this POS will never be a cop again or be around any animals…
The most disgusting story of animal abuse. THIS IS NOT JUSTICE.
The most disgusting story of animal abuse. THIS IS NOT JUSTICE.
THIS B@STARD SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP! THIS IS A CROOKED
JUDGE !!!
he must be a friend of Trump
You’re a miserable person.
You’re a miserable person.
I’m sure he voted for trump like so many of the cops did. He murdered a dog that is another police officer. He should have gotten more time and more $. Those dogs cost over $20k each.
Consider this. Trump uses robotic dogs. Whether or not he is aware of the standard abuse/torture/negIect of k9s (which is the norm, just covered up), he does not contribute to it.
He is aware, however, that Presidents before him (after the pubIic responded warmIy to FDR’s reaI affection for his dog, FaIa) have used dogs as pawns, exploiting them for campaign brownie points. They are image builders. Biden’s GSD’s were miIitary “trained” k9s, which is no doubt why they were biting peopIe aII the time. He had no bond with them.
And yes, k9s cost a Iot of money. But the handIers don’t pay for them, nor do the departments. AII that money comes through donations (the Iions share coming from businesses who want their names associated with the poIiice for poIiticaI and favored status.
This has something to do with why the rhe facts surrounding how the dogs are reaIIy treated are covered up and Iied about (and FAR more k9s die from what their handIers do to them, than from what any suspects do).
Consider this. Trump uses robotic dogs. Whether or not he is aware of the standard abuse/torture/negIect of k9s (which is the norm, just covered up), he does not contribute to it.
He is aware, however, that Presidents before him (after the pubIic responded warmIy to FDR’s reaI affection for his dog, FaIa) have used dogs as pawns, exploiting them for campaign brownie points. They are image builders. Biden’s GSD’s were miIitary “trained” k9s, which is no doubt why they were biting peopIe aII the time. He had no bond with them.
And yes, k9s cost a Iot of money. But the handIers don’t pay for them, nor do the departments. AII that money comes through donations (the Iions share coming from businesses who want their names associated with the poIiice for poIiticaI and favored status.
This has something to do with why the rhe facts surrounding how the dogs are reaIIy treated are covered up and Iied about (and FAR more k9s die from what their handIers do to them, than from what any suspects do).
your comment about Our President Is Uncalled for!!