Overview

• K-9 Georgia, a bloodhound donated by a local family, died July 13 when the patrol car’s air-conditioning compressor and heat alarm both failed during a heat index of about 100 degrees.
• The handler was fired on July 15 and prosecutors in the Dade County District Attorney’s Office are reviewing the incident to decide on possible criminal charges.
• Sheriff Ray Cross ordered that any K-9 vehicle with nonfunctional essential equipment be taken out of service and barred handlers from leaving dogs unattended during summer.
• Investigators determined that a defective heat sensor prevented automatic temperature alerts while Georgia was left in the vehicle for what was deemed an unacceptable amount of time.
• The case adds to a series of police dog heatstroke deaths nationwide and has renewed calls from advocacy groups for routine equipment inspections, handler training and backup safety systems.