WATCH ABOVE: A South Texas police dog is dead and his handler has been fired after the animal was left in a hot patrol car for more than 20 hours. Anayeli Ruiz reports.
TORONTO – A sheriff’s deputy and his four-legged K-9 Unit pal were inseparable for three years until Monday when the officer accidentally left the dog in his hot police cruiser for 20 hours — ‘Jolo’ the German Shepherd died as a result.
Jim Wells County Sheriff Oscar Lopez in Alice, Texas, said Latham Roldan – who was just celebrated in May for his ‘outstanding performance’ – forgot Jolo in his patrol car at the end of Sunday’s shift. He returned to the vehicle the following day while temperatures reached 109 degrees Farenheit (approximately 43 degrees Celsius).
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Jolo’s lifeless body was inside.
“There are no excuses,” Lopez told KRIS.
Roldan’s employment has since been terminated and he could face charges pending a review.
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“Just because we are police officers, and we do wrong, that doesn’t mean we don’t pay for it,” Lopez added. “If we did wrong, we’re going to pay for it.”
Jolo specialized in narcotics and allegedly cost more than $5,700 (U.S.). The remaining three officers, and their dogs, have been asked to report daily to their supervisor.
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