Hawaiʻi – On September 5, the Hawaiʻi Police Department announced the tragic death of K9 Archer, a valued member of the department’s Vice Section. According to a news release from the department, K9 Archer died because he was left of an “unacceptable” amount of time in a patrol vehicle.
Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna said:
“This was a preventable tragedy, dogs should not be left unattended in a vehicle for any period of time. Archer was not just a police dog, he was a partner, protector, and a member of our police family.”
Adding:
“the K9 handler involved in this case is devastated as you would expect, nevertheless a thorough criminal and administrative investigation will be conducted. We are committed to accountability and making sure something like this never happens again.”
The department said:
Archer, a six-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix from Hungary, joined Hawai‘i Police Department in 2021 and was trained in narcotics detection. He served alongside his handler in numerous operations, assisting in keeping drugs and dangerous contraband off Hawai‘i Island streets.
Mahuna cautioned all pet owners of the dangers associated with leaving dogs in unattended, parked vehicles:
“Please be mindful that you should never leave a dog in a hot car, leaving your car in the shade, with water for the dog or with the windows partially down even in mild weather will not prevent your dog from overheating. Hundreds of dogs die each year being left unattended in vehicles and that number is surely much higher as many cases are never reported.”
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