A Hawaii Police Department dog, Archer, died Thursday after being “left unattended in a police vehicle for an unacceptable period of time,” the department said in a news release Friday.
“This was a preventable tragedy. Dogs should not be left unattended in a vehicle for any period of time,” said Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna. “Archer was not just a police dog, he was a partner, protector, and a member of our police family.”
Mahuna went on to say, “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 will conduct a comprehensive review of K9 policies and procedures to determine if there are any adjustments that can be made to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.
Archer, a 6 1/2-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix from Hungary, joined HPD in 2021 and was trained in narcotics detection. He served alongside his handler in numerous operations, assisting in keeping drugs and dangerous contraband off Hawaii Island streets.
“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,” cautioned Mahuna. “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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