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A Cherokee County, Georgia police K-9 was found dead in a patrol car Friday evening after being left alone in the vehicle for several hours while temperatures outside reached into the low 90’s.
Inca, a 4-year old Belgian Malinois was partnered with Cherokee County Lt. Dan Peabody, a school resource officer. Together, the pair worked at area schools conducting sweeps of vehicles, lockers, and classrooms to deter the possession, use, and sale of illegal substances on school property.
On Friday afternoon, about 4:15pm, investigators say Peabody drove home with Inca in the back of the patrol car. Normally, Peabody drives a specially outfitted K9 patrol car with a kennel and safety features to prevent a tragedy, but he’d lent his K9 vehicle to another officer whose vehicle was out of service.
When he arrived home, he parked the car, turned off the engine and air conditioning, and went inside to “deal with another dog.” Around 7pm, Peabody remembered Inca was still in the parked car.
Inca was already dead, presumably from heat exhaustion, by the time she was found.
Inca’s body was sent to the University of Georgia for a necropsy. Lt. Peabody was placed on administrative leave while an investigation into the dog’s death continues. If and when he returns to work, he will not be working with another canine partner. Officials report that Peabody was so grief stricken after the dog’s death that he was hospitalized Friday evening.
Although an investigation is ongoing, charges are possible in Inca’s death.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department issued the following statement:
The CCSD family is mourning the tragic loss of K9 police dog, Inca. She served her community well and was loved by many, especially our students who met her through safety presentations.
Lt. Dan Peabody, who has served with the CCSD School Police Department since 2000, was immediately assigned to administrative duties only and will not be working with a canine partner. Lt. Peabody, a certified K9 handler, raised 4-year-old Inca from a puppy and trained her to serve with him, to track and to detect narcotics.
In addition to the Marshal’s Office investigation, the CCSD is conducting an administrative inquiry and will be reviewing the K9 unit’s practices.
Trevor imrie
says:I work with dogs , and you don’t forget there in the car , full stop , this bloke needs to be sacked , then prosecuted for dogs death , there’s no excuse at all mans best friend , and his best friend kills him , need I say any more
barb
says:what do they preach? put something in the back seat you need when you get to your destination. this guy does not deserve to be with the canine patrol and should be prosecuted like anyone else
Not happy
says:crying, crying, crying. The pain she suffered, gasping for air. Wish I could’ve been there to save her. No more to say.
Felicia
says:RIP Inca and thank you for your service….your partner failed you.
Janie
says:We are hoping that all those people that leave animals locked in a hot car be charged and here comes an officer and does the same!? Poor Inca may she R.I.P
maria
says:He should be Terminated! He let his partner die! Shame on him! What is going on with these cops?!!!
Marjorie H. Leinbaugh
says:I cannot believe this keeps happening year after year. Do people NOT learn from the past? Are we dealing with idiots after all?. It is common sense. I would not even leave a plant in a car in these temperatures……let alone a living, breathing creature. Not to mention the cost to train this most valuable canine. What in the Hell are people thinking…..or NOT thinking.? Idiots abound!!!!!!! There is no escape…..sadly.
J. Kats
says:He should have been terminated from his position. He let his Partner die!
Ann Dombroskie
says:After all of the dogs that died last year and the year before I would have thought training would be better. What would happen if he left his kids in the car?
RIP Inca!
Lisa Dunlap
says:So are you saying the poor dog died because the Lt wasn’t smart enough to remove her from the car?
J. Udoff
says:How untrained this Police Officer must be about caring for a dog! This is not the first K-9 dog to die tragically by being left in the officers car. This is completely due to neglect, and ignorance. It appears that these officers do not deserve to have the responsibility of a valuable, irreplaceable trained dog. The time and money that is put into the training of these dogs are unmeasurable! This is an accident that is completely avoidable. It makes me so mad as a dog trainer to think that these hard working loyal dogs are handed over to irresponsible owners, that end up KILLING these dogs.
SHAME ON THE ENTIRE POLICE FORCE!!