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DIED – 6/19/15
HANDLER – Cpl. Josh Coleman
Police dog dies after being left in patrol car days after celebrating 3rd birthday
Authorities in coastal Alabama say a police dog has died after being left in a hot patrol car. Gulf Shores Sgt. Jason Woodruff says the 3-year-old dog, Officer Mason, was part of a hurricane preparation event Thursday and the corporal who was handling the dog forgot him in the back seat afterward. Police say the dog was taken to a veterinary clinic and later died. Authorities say the dog’s handler won’t face criminal charges but may face disciplinary action. It’s unclear how long the dog may have been inside the car. On Thursday, June 18, while transitioning between duties, Mason’s handler, Cpl. Josh Coleman forgot that Mason was in the back seat of his patrol car.
On discovering Mason’s absence Coleman located him in the vehicle. When Coleman found Mason he was in serious distress. Coleman rushed him to a local veterinarian’s officer where treatment began. On the advice of the veterinarian Mason was then taken to an advanced facility in Pensacola. There he was treated aggressively for his condition. There were hopeful signs that Mason was doing better Friday morning. However, on Friday evening Mason’s condition began to deteriorate rapidly. Around 11 p.m. on Friday night Mason went into respiratory failure and passed away. The department had just celebrated Mason’s birthday 10 days earlier.
The department has conferred with the District Attorney’s office and the consensus was that no criminal charges are being filed. However the department and the ciy have taken sanctions against Coleman. Enforcement K-9s spend a good deal of time in their handler’s vehicles so those vehicles are equipped with remote heat alarms, water bowls and other protective measures. Because Mason’s duties did not include long periods in a vehicle those protective measures were not available in his handler’s car. The situation has been devastating for Coleman and his family and we hope that they are able to work through their understandable emotions. This is a tragic occurrence that has left the entire organization mourning a terrible loss. It also illustrates how easy it is to become distracted and how quickly heat can affect those that we love that are particularly vulnerable to it. Please keep this in mind when transporting children, pets or the elderly.
