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Another police K9 was found dead of apparent heat exhaustion, in the back of a parked patrol car in Gainesville, Florida.
Alachua County Sheriffs Deputy Tommy Wilcox drove his patrol SUV home after a SWAT situation, put away his gear, and left in his personal vehicle to meet his family. Some time later, he realized that he hadn’t brought Robbie inside the home, that he was most likely still in the vehicle and rushed back home.
It was too late. K9 Robbie was already deceased in the back of Wilcox’s police SUV.
The K9 patrol vehicle does have safety features in place to prevent such an incident, including windows that automatically roll down and a fan that turns on when temperatures inside the vehicle reach a certain temperature. However, the SUV has to be turned on for it to work. Wilcox’s SUV was parked and turned off with Robbie locked inside.
Temperatures outside that day were in the 90’s. Inside the vehicle, temperatures could easily have reached well into triple digits.
An investigation into Robbie’s death is ongoing. As details emerge, it is possible that charges will be brought against Deputy Wilcox.
Wilcox is currently on administrative leave. It is unknown whether he will be assigned another police dog.
In 2008, Wilcox adopted another K9 partner, Kozer after the dog retired from service. Wilcox euthanized the aging dog by shooting him, a procedure that, at the time, was not illegal but prompted a policy change requiring aging and infirm K9’s to be humanely euthanized by a veterinarian.
Grammy
says:What kind of a jerk is this guy? He killed his older canine partner with a shot to the head. Most good cops take their dog home when they retire. Many folk would have taken that dog. I would have taken that dog. I am sick. He served this jerk and his community and ends up with a shot in the head then this jerk leaves next dog in the car to die in the heat. He don’t need to be any kind of cop. Bad karma to this guy. Glad I don’t live near him.
Rhonda
says:Good Lord, there is NO EXCUSE for this type of behavior!!! After shooting the dog, he should not be allowed near any K-9s!
Jane
says:In some states, K9 are considered officers. So this could be considered murdering an officer had it been in one of those states. It should apply in all cases. They are trained to save lives, trained to save this officer’s life; yet his partner treated him like an afterthought. Glad he doesn’t live here and isn’t responsible for protecting me. Beyond sick at how a person could leave behind a soul that would do ANYTHING asked of him for this person. He is not worthy of any dog’s love, companionship or partnership.
Faye
says:so sick and tired of hear of this happening to any dogs let alone K-9 police dogs. just out of complete ignorance and stupidity. charges need to be files against these officers. and they should loose their jobs. NEVER be allowed to have any kind of k-9 partners EVER again. these dogs are to serve the community they live in and protect the officer the service with(the idiot that left him in a car to die). the loss of life is not replacable. and then there is the cost of the dog and all the special training – these are all expense’s the community has paid for, they should be outraged at the irresponsibility of these officers no excuses, and officers should be charged with the death of a law enforcement officer. which this dog was.
they need to educate these officers. for some reason they do not feel that the law and common sense pertains to them. they are suppose protect and serve, including their partner-human or k-9. the dogs are trained to give their lives to protect them from harm. and these “officers” are leaving their k-9 partners to die a terrible death left along in a car that turns into an oven,
rules need to be put in place- the officer turns the key and leaves that car his dog goes with him !!!!
NO MORE DOGS FOR THIS PERSON !!!! charges =YES. loss of job in law enforcement-YES
open minded animal lover
says:It was an accident, and normally i would not defend this but when I read he just got back from a SWAT SITUATION then I am going to assume he had a very stressful day and was trying to live through another day. He jumped in his personal car and went to meet his family..He did rush back home when he remembered his dog was still in the cop car. People have done this with their kids before, for not reason..but this guy had a lot on his mind. I feel bad for him and his dog. 🙁
And they are going to give him another dog to kill??????????? What is wrong with the adult dog owners in Florida??????
Especially the canine officers….. And their employers.
DIANNE BAKER
says:WE ARE HEARING THIS MORE AND MORE WHERE POLICE OFFICERS ARE LEAVING THEIR PARTNERS IN THE CARS AND FORGETTING ABOUT THEM TILL IT IS TOO LATE..THIS OFFICER HAS TO FEEL AWFUL ENOUGH AS IT IS….SO DON’T BASH HIM. BUT I AGREE HE SHOULD NOT BE allowed ANOTHER DOG.. MAY THE DOG R.I.P. BECAUSE HEHAS ALREADY SUFFERED..
Marge
says:No way should this guy be given another dog .
He shouldn’t be allowed to own any animal. If he remembers to stow his gear but not his PARTNER, he does not deserve another! He should also be educated on humane euthanasia as an alternative to ending an animal’s life as opposed to a violent and probably terrifying death of a trusting animal.
Jennie
says:I’m sorry but I don’t know how anyone can forget about a human baby or a fur baby being in the car. The same officer shot his last k9 in the head because he was old. This officer should be taken off the force! The whole thing pisses me off!!! QUIT LEAVING YOUR KIDS AND PETS IN THE CAR!!!!!
Sandy
says:Fire this asshole!!! Murderer. Insensitive. stupid!!!
Charlene Justice
says:How in the heck did this POS deserve another dog after putting a bullet in the head of the last one!!!! LOCK his ASS up!!
Mia
says:This is uncalled for. How on earth can an officer be so absent minded to forget that he took his partner home and just left him in a death chamber. He knew the dog was in the vehicle but he chose to just walk away. He should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If a suspect were to kill a K9 they would be charged with killing an officer, the same thing should be applied to officers who leave their dogs to die in their car. Whether he meant to or not he still killed his partner.
oscar da Grouch
says:Murdered his partner….TWICE. shot his last dog. This monster should not fired. Piece of shit.