A New Castle police officer alleged to have left his K-9 partner in a cruiser for three hours and 45 minutes last Saturday could face internal discipline as well as possible criminal charges.
"I will say the dog is not permitted to be in the car without a handler for that long," Police Chief Thomas Sansone said.
Sansone said following a memorial service for K-9 officer Chico that the dog's handler has been placed on an unpaid leave while the internal investigation is taking place. The actions of Officer James Hoyland are also being looked at by the Lawrence County District Attorney's office.
"It is very important you have these two investigations that are occurring because you don't want to leave anyone the impression that there is some sort of cover up or conspiracy of silence going on," said Lawrence County Prosecutor Joshua Lamancusa.
Sansone said the dog died of heat stroke. He said the handler left the dog in the cruiser with the air conditioning on while he went and worked a side job. At one point, the air conditioner quit cooling the car. He said a heat sensor alarm equipment was in working condition.
"After so long idling, the air will shut down, can't get rid of the heat in the car, just like throwing a blanket over your air conditioner at home. We tested it and it did the same thing, after two hours the air shut off," Sansone said.
The chief said there was no intention on the officers part to purposely hurt Chico but the death is devastating because the K-9 was loved by many, which was evident by the large turnout at the memorial service.
"It is something that shouldn't happen, it is twice as hard because you feel remorse for the dog, you feel remorseful for the officer, like I said anything could happen here up to including the officer being terminated," Sansone said.
He said the officer is extremely upset over the matter. Both investigations should be completed in the next few weeks.
Hundreds of people, including law enforcement officials from all over Pennsylvania and Ohio, came to the memorial service Thursday at the Old Ben Franklin School. Many of them said they wanted to say goodbye to Chico and thank him for his hard work and dedication to the New Castle Police Department, where he worked since 2009.
Cameras were not allowed in the service, where Sansone spoke to those who attended. He said dealing with Chico's death is one of the hardest situations he's ever had to deal with.
Hoyland did not speak at the service and went to the memorial before the public arrived. However, Chico's original handler, Terry Dolquist, did speak.
Dolquist praised the work of the dog and said that before working for New Castle, Chico worked with a private security company in Iraq. He and Sansone stressed that the dog was a great asset to the New Castle Police Department and the community.
"He scared people in the public all the time because I would be doing a show and he would jump up, he always folded his paws back, and put the fold on their chest, and would stick his mouth right by their mouth, but he wouldn't lick them. His tongue would just touch them and that was his way of givig kisses and saying hi," Dolquist said.
Following the memorial service, officers carried Chico's ashes in a cruiser as they led a procession through town.
