Nelson Enriquez: Florida Police Officer Leaves Police Dogs Inside Cruiser During Hot Day, Both Found Dead Hours Later

Florida police officer Nelson Enriquez is under investigation after two police dogs under his care were found dead inside of an unmarked SUV parked outside his home.

Police in Hialeah say officer Enriquez came home in the early morning hours on Wednesday after completing a midnight shift and left the dogs inside the vehicle. He later returned to the car at around 7 p.m., finding both dogs dead.

The dogs, a 7-year-old bloodhound named Jimmy and a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois named Hector, had been under the care of the Enriquez, who was a K-9 handler for the last seven years.

The story is one of many in recent months in which a police officer killed a dog, either by accident or on purpose. Back in December, video emerged of Cleburne police officer Kevin Dupre gunning down a 6-month-old pit bull puppy named Maximus. Many users noted that the dog was not a threat to the officer, who actually called the animal to him. Some locals started a petition to have Dupre fired, saying he killed the dog “in cold blood.”

“The video clearly shows Officer Kevin Dupre calling the dog with kissing noises — the kind of sound that a six month old puppy associates with human kindness and play. As the six month old Maximus came running to the officer’s call, he was clearly wagging his tail and excited as though he knew he was going to get a treat or pat on the head. What happens next is horrifying: Dupre coldly aims his gun and shoots the dog numerous times, killing him.”

In another incident in January, a police officer in Iowa tried to shoot a family dog during a domestic disturbance call and ended up striking and killing Gabriel Steele in front of her husband and 4-year-old son.

“The dog startled the officer. The officer began shooting at the dog. The officer was still shooting when he fell down in the snow,” an eyewitness told the Hawk Eye.

“It appeared he was shooting at the dog when [the officer] fell to the ground,” another eyewitness reportedly said. “It’s my belief the woman was shot accidentally.”

While in those cases it was clear that officers were trying to kill the dogs they believed to be a threat, the Florida officer who left the dogs in his police cruiser seems to be an accident.

Police in Florida have not said whether Nelson Enriquez will face charges for the two dogs found dead inside his police cruiser.

[Images via Facebook]