HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawaii Police Department is mourning the loss of their K-9 Archer.
According to the department, on Thursday, Sept. 4, Archer died after being left unattended in a vehicle for “an unacceptable period of time.”
“This was a preventable tragedy, dogs should not be left unattended in a vehicle for any period of time,” said Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna. “Archer was not just a police dog, he was a partner, protector, and a member of our police family.”
The department will conduct a review of K-9 policies and procedures to determine if there are any adjustments that can be made to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.
“The K-9 handler involved in this case is devastated as you would expect, nevertheless a thorough criminal and administrative investigation will be conducted. We are committed to accountability and making sure something like this never happens again,” Chief Mahuna added.
Archer, a six-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix from Hungary, joined the department in 2021.
Archer was trained in narcotics detection and served alongside his handler in numerous operations, assisting in keeping drugs and dangerous contraband off Hawai‘i Island streets.
“Please be mindful that you should never leave a dog in a hot car, leaving your car in the shade, with water for the dog or with the windows partially down even in mild weather will not prevent your dog from overheating,” cautioned Mahuna. “Hundreds of dogs die each year being left unattended in vehicles and that number is surely much higher as many cases are never reported.”
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The department thanks the community for its support during this difficult time as we mourn the loss of a loyal and dedicated partner.