Savannah, Missouri, police K-9 Horus died after he was reportedly left behind in a hot car when temperatures reached 90 degrees with a low of 70. (Savannah Police Department)
Authorities in Missouri are investigating after a police K-9 reportedly died in a hot car following an overnight patrol shift in a case that has sparked outrage on social media.
David Vincent, the police chief in the small town of Savannah, which is about 65 miles north of Kansas City, said K-9 Horus died June 20. Temperatures that day reached as high as 90 degrees with a low of 70, per the National Weather Service.
“The Savannah Police Department, and the entire community suffered a tremendous loss,” Vincent said in a statement emailed to Law&Crime. “K9 Horus passed away after completing an overnight shift on patrol in Savannah.”
The case remains under investigation, according to Vincent.
Kansas City Fox affiliate WDAF, citing police sources, reported Horus was left inside a hot car overnight. While cops haven’t said how long Horus was in the car, temperatures quickly increase in a closed vehicle without air conditioning. At 90 degrees outside, a car could become as hot as 135 degrees inside after in an hour, the American Veterinary Medical Association estimates. Even at 70 degrees the temperature rises to 115 degrees within the same time period, the organization says.
The dog’s death brings the total number of officers in the Savannah Police Department down to three, local CBS affiliate KCTV reported, although more officers are expected to start next week.
“Due to this being an open investigation, there will be no further information released until the investigation is completed,” Vincent said. “The entire department would appreciate your thoughts and prayers, as we deal with the loss of our partner, Horus.”
Horus, a full-breed German shepherd, joined the department in February 2021 when he was 2 years old, the agency said in a Facebook post at the time. He and his handler trained for eight weeks and started patrolling in May 2021, the department said. Commenters have taken to the post announcing Horus’s arrival to the department to express their outrage. Cops have not publicly revealed who left the dog behind in the car when he died.
Andrew County Prosecuting Attorney Monica Morrey said in a statement to WDAF that she has asked the Missouri State Police to investigate the case.
“The Andrew County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is deeply saddened to learn of K-9 Horus’ passing. We are grateful to him for his service to our community,” the statement said. “I will await the results of this investigation prior to making any determination of necessary action.”
The Missouri Legislature this year approved a bill that would increase penalties for injuring or killing a police dog. The bill makes it a class D felony — up to seven years in prison and a $10,000 fine — for killing a K-9. The bill is currently awaiting Gov. Mike Parson’s signature.
“Under current law, right now, it’s actually a more serious crime to break the window out of a police car, which is admittedly a serious crime,” bill sponsor Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer told Missourinet. “That has a stiffer penalty associated with it than killing a law enforcement K9. So, that, to me, just doesn’t seem right.”
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