Police Dog Found Dead In Patrol Car

A dedicated police dog was found dead in his handler’s patrol car earlier this week, and a necropsy showed that the K-9 had died of a heat stroke.

The K-9 was named Spartacus and was only 3-years-old at his time of death.

Spartacus, a Belgian Malinois, was a certified multi-purpose dog according to ajc.com.

He worked in the K-9 unit doing a variety of things, including narcotics detection, tracking, and apprehension for the department.

“The K9 handler is currently on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation,” said Brittany Duncan, a Woodstock Police Department spokeswoman.

Spartacus’ handler has not been identified at the moment but says that he is devastated by the loss.

CNN stated that Spartacus’ handler is a 9-year police veteran who has worked at as K-9 handler for seven of those years.

“After the retirement of his first police K-9, who is now a family pet living with the K-9 handler, the handler is devastated by the loss of his second police K-9,” Duncan said.

There was also another case of a police dog who was left in its handlers car in Mississippi over night and was found dead.

Police and their K-9’s can form a very unique bond, as can be seen by the dog that paid his last respects to his fallen partner.

“The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, which responded to the officer’s home Monday night, is also investigating the dog’s death, Sheriff Donnie Craig told the AJC.

“Specific details about the investigation were not released, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office said.”

The Woodstock Police Department is planning to have a memorial service for Spartacus (pictured to the right), and even though they haven’t picked an official day, they said it will be coming.

Police dogs aren’t just animals, they are friends and co-workers, so it’s only fitting that the department have a service for him. It just shows how much they care for their fallen comrade.

Spartacus, the police dog who was found dead, will be missed not only by the handler’s family, but by the department as a whole.

[Images via WSMV.com and Oregon Police Canine Association]