State Police have charged a sergeant within the State Corrections system for leaving a drug detection dog in a hot vehicle.
Police say Sgt. Chad Holland, 40, of Lock Haven was the primary officer responsible for Totti, a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever. He died on July 7th after being left in a vehicle after training at the Rockview State Prison.
Holland was charged with a summary count of Cruelty to Animals. The charges stem from failing to give Totti necessary water, and “access to cool and proper shelter from the dangerous heat which caused his death.”
Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections released a statement saying they were deeply saddened by the tragic loss of K9 Totti last month and Secretary John Wetzel is committed to ensuring such a devastating event never occurs again.
After ordering a full internal investigation, Secretary Wetzel removed Totti’s handler and his supervisor from their positions with the Drug Interdiction Unit.
The investigation file was turned over to the Pennsylvania State Police and the DOC has been and continues to be fully cooperative with the Centre County District Attorney’s office.
“We took the death of Totti very seriously and have taken a number of steps to ensure our K9s are safe no matter the weather,” said Secretary Wetzel. “These K9s are valued members of the DOC law enforcement team and we are committed to keeping them safe in our care.”
Actions taken to date are:
Change of Leadership in the Drug Interdiction Unit.
- The two individuals involved, a captain and a sergeant, were reassigned to positions at SCI Rockview.
- A senior DOC officer with military K9 experience has been assigned to lead the Drug Interdiction Unit.
A written K9 policy directive has been implemented outlining the care and handling of K9s in-vehicle, and while on-duty or off-duty
No K9s will be left in the vehicle for any reason when the handler is not in vehicle.
When deployed overnight the handler and K9 will stay in pet friendly hotels.
Placards will be posted on dashboard constantly reminding the handler of K9 in vehicle.
The DOC has purchased portable kennels and every institution now has a portable kennel where the K9 will be placed on downtime. Also, each handler was issued a portable kennel in the event they are out in the community conducting work.
The DOC is in the process of tinting windows/and adding rain guards to assist in climate control for the K9s.
The DOC also is examining the purchase of extreme weather alarm equipment for K9 vehicles.
On July 7, 2016, Totti, a member of the Drug Interdiction Unit team, was left unattended in a hot vehicle for three hours. The two-year-old dog was unconscious but alive when he was discovered. First aid was rendered at the scene and he was rushed to an area veterinarian. Despite the emergency treatment, Totti died several hours later from a heat-related seizure while in veterinary care.
