K9 Bauer – Oceana, West Virginia

Died – 7/4/23

K-9 died after left in a hot police cruiser, officer resigns after investigation

A local K-9 officer died after they were reportedly left in a hot police cruiser in July. According to information from Chief Tyler Dunigon with the Oceana Police Department, an unnamed Oceana police officer is no longer with the department after his K-9 partner, K-9 Bauer, died from being left in a hot car on July 4, 2023. Chief Dunigon spoke with 59News and provided details into what happened. The unnamed officer, after reportedly working a 12-hour shift consisting of multiple trips from Wyoming County to Raleigh County and being awake for longer than 24 hours, returned to the department in Oceana to finish his paperwork. While inside, the officer reportedly fell asleep, leaving K-9 Bauer in the car. According to Chief Dunigon, it was a lower temperature when the officer left the dog in the cruiser and the back windows were opened slightly. However, once the officer woke up, the temperature had risen significantly and he returned to the cruiser to find K-9 Bauer dead. The officer was immediately suspended for three days without pay and an internal investigation was opened. According to both Chief Dunigon and Oceana Mayor Tom Evans, the officer officially resigned as of Wednesday, August 9, 2023. The complete findings of the Oceana Police Department’s investigation are going to be brought in front of the Oceana City Council on Thursday, August 10, 2023. Mayor Evans said that while this was under devastating circumstances, he was pleased with the immediate action taken to investigate the incident. Chief Dunigon stated that the Wyoming County Prosecutor’s Office and West Virginia State Police have opened their own outside investigation in partnership into the K-9 officer’s death. He said his entire department will be cooperative in any way they can throughout the entire investigation.

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Submitted By Jim Cortina

James A. Cortina has been involved with police dogs since 1972 and currently on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Jim has been appointed as Treasurer since its inception in 1991. Jim is one of the charter members of the C.P.W.D.A. organization. Since 1975 he has been a certified professional dog trainer and received his Master Trainer Certification in 1985. During his career he has provided armed K-9 strike crowd control for security agencies in Connecticut and out of state security companies. In conjunction with other members of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Board of Directors, he helped to draft Connecticut Statute 53-247(e) "Intentional Injury or Killing of Police K-9" which was passed by the Senate in 1993 and also assisted in implementing the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award in 1992. In 1993 he helped coordinate the North American Police Work Dog Association Nationals in New London, Connecticut. He was appointed Training Director for the New London County Work Dog Association from 1985-1987. He performed decoy work for Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. in police K-9 demonstrations, trained several local police department canines, and coordinated training workshops for out-of-state police departments. He participated in the United States Police K-9 Association Trials in Croton on Hudson, New York in 1985 as a decoy. He is an avid photographer and received photography awards in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and currently takes photographs for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc.
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