A New Jersey sheriff’s sergeant in charge of his department’s K-9 unit has been charged with recklessly causing the death of two police dogs by leaving the pair in an overheating cop car, according to new reports.
Cody L. Henderson of the Salem County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Tuesday following the deaths of K-9s Boomer, a 6-year-old springer spaniel, and Rip, a 4-year-old Belgian malinois, on May 29, NJ.com reported.
The 41-year-old sergeant discovered K-9s Boomer and Rip dead in his police car around 3:30 p.m. and drove them to an animal hospital in Delaware, the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office alleged.
An investigation into the deaths found that Henderson had left two animals unattended in the K-9 police vehicle from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. without proper ventilation or care while parked at the Salem City County Courthouse Complex, the outlet reported.
Sheriff’s office surveillance footage and county key fob logs indicated that after parking his police vehicle, Henderson remained inside the courthouse for the seven-hour duration and did not check on the dogs.
Prosecutors alleged that the K-9 police vehicle was not kept running during the seven-hour period, the windows were closed and the emergency alert system — which triggers an alarm and lowers the vehicle’s windows if the temperature inside the car gets too high — was not activated.
Investigators do not believe that there were any malfunction issues with the vehicle or the K-9 heat alarm device.
Additionally, the police vehicle was awaiting repair for an air conditioning malfunction, according to the vehicle’s maintenance log.
Indoor kennels that were immediately available were also not utilized, investigators said.
The careless sergeant was slapped with a myriad of charges, including two third-degree counts of purposefully, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to a living animal by failing to provide necessary care, resulting in death.
Henderson was placed on administrative leave with pay following the K-9’s deaths and has been suspended pending the outcome of his court case, according to NJ.com
A post-mortem examination of the K-9s determined Boomer and Kip likely died from hyperthermia/heat stroke, the outlet reported, citing the affidavit filed with the charges.
Rip was a patrol and drug-detection K-9 who joined the sheriff’s office in 2023, while Boomer specialized in bomb detection since joining the department in 2021.
Henderson originally joined the sheriff’s office in 2009, before taking a brief stint elsewhere and returning in 2017, according to the publication.
In 2022, he graduated from the police K-9 training program and later became head of the agency’s entire K-9 unit.
Salem County Sheriff Chuck Miller said, “The loss of these loyal partners has had a profound impact on our agency, our law enforcement community, and the citizens they faithfully served,” in a statement Wednesday.
“Rip and Boomer exemplified the highest standards of service, loyalty, and dedication. Their contributions to public safety and their commitment to duty will not be forgotten,” Miller said.
“We continue to honor the memory of Rip and Boomer and extend our thoughts to all those affected by this tragic loss.”
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