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Officer Cleared in Death of Police Dog.. Follow up
select-fire
Member Posts: 69,516 ✭✭✭✭
I don't understand why they relieved him of his duties with dogs...
Deputy Won't Face Charges in Dog's Death
Deputy John Baker
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(Richland County) - A Richland County Sheriff's deputy is being reassigned, but won't face criminal prosecution in the death of his K-9 partner, Atilla. That word came Wednesday afternoon from Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
Click here for previous coverage.
"No one feels worse than Atilla's handler, Deputy John Paul Baker," Lott said. "Atilla depended on his partner, Deputy Baker, to protect him, and Deputy Baker failed in this duty."
Atilla died last week after being left in Baker's patrol car. Lott says Baker left his vehicle to conduct training and returned to find the dog unresponsive. The safety devices that are installed in the K-9 vehicles to prevent this type of occurrence were not utilized, according to Lott.
"Deputy Solicitor Dayton Riddle of the 11th Judicial Circuit, has reviewed the investigation of The South Carolina Humane Society Investigator Steve Stephenson, and both have reached the conclusion that Deputy Baker will not be criminally prosecuted for the death of Atilla," Lott said. "However, disciplinary action, which includes suspension without pay and removal from the K-9 Unit has been taken against Deputy Baker. Deputy Baker will remain a Deputy with the Sheriff's Department.
"Deputy Baker has been a dedicated police dog handler who views his assigned dogs not as an animal, but as a partner," Lott said. "Deputy Baker must now live with the knowledge that he caused the death of his partner. This is a cross he will forever bear."
"As a result of this incident, we are putting into place mandatory policy and procedures concerning use of the equipment and length of time a police dog is left in a vehicle," Lott said. "This tragic incident has no winners or losers. Hopefully, Atilla's death will be used as an example of why we must go the extra steps to protect our police dogs."
Van O'Cain, New Media Manager
Updated: 5/24/2006 4:59:02 PM
Deputy Won't Face Charges in Dog's Death
Deputy John Baker
E-mail This Article
Printable Version
(Richland County) - A Richland County Sheriff's deputy is being reassigned, but won't face criminal prosecution in the death of his K-9 partner, Atilla. That word came Wednesday afternoon from Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
Click here for previous coverage.
"No one feels worse than Atilla's handler, Deputy John Paul Baker," Lott said. "Atilla depended on his partner, Deputy Baker, to protect him, and Deputy Baker failed in this duty."
Atilla died last week after being left in Baker's patrol car. Lott says Baker left his vehicle to conduct training and returned to find the dog unresponsive. The safety devices that are installed in the K-9 vehicles to prevent this type of occurrence were not utilized, according to Lott.
"Deputy Solicitor Dayton Riddle of the 11th Judicial Circuit, has reviewed the investigation of The South Carolina Humane Society Investigator Steve Stephenson, and both have reached the conclusion that Deputy Baker will not be criminally prosecuted for the death of Atilla," Lott said. "However, disciplinary action, which includes suspension without pay and removal from the K-9 Unit has been taken against Deputy Baker. Deputy Baker will remain a Deputy with the Sheriff's Department.
"Deputy Baker has been a dedicated police dog handler who views his assigned dogs not as an animal, but as a partner," Lott said. "Deputy Baker must now live with the knowledge that he caused the death of his partner. This is a cross he will forever bear."
"As a result of this incident, we are putting into place mandatory policy and procedures concerning use of the equipment and length of time a police dog is left in a vehicle," Lott said. "This tragic incident has no winners or losers. Hopefully, Atilla's death will be used as an example of why we must go the extra steps to protect our police dogs."
Van O'Cain, New Media Manager
Updated: 5/24/2006 4:59:02 PM
Comments
One of our county Deputy's had his dog get over heated when the A/C quit working in his car and he didn't know it. Luckly his dog recovered, he was somewhat unresponsive and was rushed to a Vet.
Richland County is in South Carolina.
Thanks
[:(]
I wonder what fate has in store for deputy John Baker.
That's nice to say, but there are three losers here. The dog lost his life, the department lost a trained dog (which is both a PR loss as well as a capital loss, since obtaining and training police dogs isn't cheap), and of course the responsible officer lost honor as well as his position with the K9 unit. This was a negative incident; you cant spin it as neutral with a straight face.
Incidentally, I think the punishment meted out here is perfectly proportionate to the incident. No crime was committed (it is only a dog, and the incident, however regrettable was clearly not deliberate), so no criminal charges were levelled. Meanwhile, the Officer in question was responsible for the care of his dog, he failed (badly) in executing his responsibility, and now that he's proven he can't handle it, the responsibility was taken away from him.
quote:Originally posted by beantownshootah
"The safety devices that are installed in the K-9 vehicles to prevent this type of occurrence were not utilized, according to Lott."
The Deputy did not turn on the safety devices, he was negligent.
I am sure that Deputy Baker will make a fine DARE officer, or maybe a "School Resource Officer".
Isn't that where they stick the Barney Fifes?
He should be criminally charged, cruelty to animals.
"The safety devices that are installed in the K-9 vehicles to prevent this type of occurrence were not utilized, according to Lott."
The Deputy did not turn on the safety devices, he was negligent.
I am sure that Deputy Baker will make a fine DARE officer, or maybe a "School Resource Officer".
Isn't that where they stick the Barney Fifes?
wonder what we would be saying if it had been a cat...or frog, or lizard....do they have less of a soul than do dogs?
He should be criminally charged, cruelty to animals.
"The safety devices that are installed in the K-9 vehicles to prevent this type of occurrence were not utilized, according to Lott."
The Deputy did not turn on the safety devices, he was negligent.
I am sure that Deputy Baker will make a fine DARE officer, or maybe a "School Resource Officer".
Isn't that where they stick the Barney Fifes?
Human error,, I stand corrected.[B)][B)]
quote:Originally posted by beantownshootah
quote:Originally posted by tacking1
quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
He should be criminally charged, cruelty to animals.
"The safety devices that are installed in the K-9 vehicles to prevent this type of occurrence were not utilized, according to Lott."
The Deputy did not turn on the safety devices, he was negligent.
I am sure that Deputy Baker will make a fine DARE officer, or maybe a "School Resource Officer".
Isn't that where they stick the Barney Fifes?
wonder what we would be saying if it had been a cat...or frog, or lizard....do they have less of a soul than do dogs?
Just asking a question....
quote:Originally posted by beantownshootah
This Police K-9 was a sworn officer.
What language did the dog swear his oath in?
Would you allow the dog to become the chief of your department?
If not, why not?
proper procedure in leaving his dog in the car, otherwise he would have used the saftey device, or removed dog from car. What do you think they did before Technology? This guy, good guy or not is a idiot. What other procedures does he not follow? This one cost a Good Dog his life. Just my 2 cents