A New Jersey sheriff’s sergeant who oversaw his agency’s K-9 unit is facing charges after authorities say he recklessly caused the deaths of two police dogs by leaving them inside an overheated patrol vehicle, according to reports.
Cody L. Henderson, a member of the Salem County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested Tuesday in connection with the May 29 deaths of K-9 Boomer, a 6-year-old springer spaniel, and K-9 Rip, a 4-year-old Belgian malinois, NJ.com reported.
Prosecutors with the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office alleged that the 41-year-old sergeant found Boomer and Rip dead in his police vehicle at about 3:30 p.m. before taking them to an animal hospital in Delaware.
Investigators determined that Henderson had left the two dogs unattended in the K-9 vehicle from roughly 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. while it was parked at the Salem City County Courthouse Complex, without adequate ventilation or care, the outlet reported.
Surveillance video from the sheriff’s office and county key fob records showed that after Henderson parked the vehicle, he stayed inside the courthouse for the entire seven-hour span and did not check on the animals.
According to prosecutors, the K-9 vehicle was not left running during that period, its windows were shut, and the emergency heat-alert system — designed to sound an alarm and lower the windows when interior temperatures become dangerous — had not been activated.
Authorities said they do not believe the vehicle or the K-9 heat alarm system suffered any mechanical failure.
The vehicle’s maintenance records also showed it had been awaiting repairs for a malfunctioning air-conditioning system.
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.”
