Police dog left in cruiser for four hours dies

MEDINA, Ohio – Authorities in northeast Ohio say a police dog died from heatstroke after being left in a police cruiser for more than four hours last month.

Police in Montville Township near Medina say the police dog, Beny, died on Sept. 28. A statement from the Montville Police Department says Sgt. Brett Harrison left the dog in a cruiser in the station parking lot from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cruiser was off and the windows were closed.

An investigation concluded Harrison violated policy and procedures. He received a two-week unpaid suspension and lost 40 hours of vacation.

WEWS-TV reports Harrison issued a statement Tuesday night expressing his “deepest apology” to Montville Township and to his “partner, friend and loving family member Beny.”

This story was originally published October 8, 2014 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Police dog left in cruiser for four hours dies."