CONYERS, Ga. — The Conyers Police Department says it's mourning the death of one of its K-9s, who died after being left in a car.
Zane, a 5-year-old bloodhound, was found dead in his handler’s car around 5 p.m. Thursday at the handler's house in Rockdale County. Police say the dog was inside the squad car for seven hours.
"He was just a friendly dog. You kind of wanted to go up and pet him, because just the way he looked,” said Conyers Police Chief Gene Wilson.
Zane’s handler, Jerahmy Williams, has been with the police department nearly five years and is a patrol corporal. Williams is currently on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
"He truly, truly loves that dog and for him to know that it was his actions that caused the dog to perish, it's going to be difficult for him to deal with,” said Wilson.
Wilson said Williams came home from his 12-hour shift sick Thursday morning and fell asleep on his couch, and when he got ready for work that afternoon, he discovered Zane dead inside the car parked in his driveway.
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"I would hope people would understand that if he could play yesterday morning over, there's no doubt in my mind he would do that,” Wilson said. "I talked to Jerahmy for just a few minutes ago for the first time and it was truly pitiful. I can't imagine what he's going through and it's just a bad situation."
He said the SUV had two separate alarm systems to keep Zane safe, but they only work while the engine is on.
"We all realize it was an accident. We know how bad you're hurting and we're going to be here for you, but at the same time we're going to look at it from both a violation of law and a violation of policy,” Wilson said. “We are committed to the care and proper treatment of our working K-9s. We are mourning the loss of our own.”
The Rockdale County Sheriff's Office is now conducting a criminal investigation, but with a heavy heart.
"It is a partner to them. It is like a sibling to them. It is a family member to that particular officer,” Sheriff Eric Levett said.
Levett says charges could include reckless conduct and cruelty to animals, a tough blow for an officer with a spotless record.
"He's got no other discipline in his file and for someone five years in the world that we police in today, that's saying a lot,” Levett said.
The bloodhound worked as a tracking dog for Conyers Police Department for four years, three of those with Williams.
Wilson says he's going to look into getting his K-9 squads safety systems similar to those found in day care vans, which requires getting in back to flip a switch before the engine will shut off.