According to charging documents, Sgt. Cody Henderson is charged with offenses that include inflicting cruelty on an animal and causing an injury that results in the death of an animal. Prosecutors allege Henderson left K-9 Boomer and K-9 Rip in his work vehicle on May 29.
The charging documents state Henderson left the dogs in the vehicle from approximately 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Prosecutors allege the vehicle was turned off, the windows were closed and the vehicle's "hot 'n pop" system, a safety mechanism used in K-9 vehicles, had been turned off.
K-9 Rip and K-9 Boomer both died of heat stroke.
Officer Matthew Mayhew of the Hamilton Township Police Department said his patrol vehicle is equipped with a hot 'n pop system designed to alert officers when vehicle temperatures become unsafe.
"If it gets too low or too high, it'll set off an alarm," Mayhew said.
Demonstrating the system, Mayhew explained that alerts continue until an officer responds.
"That alarm will go off until I physically come down and I press that button to say, I checked on my dog and then I turned the alarm off," he said.
Mayhew said he values the additional safety measures for his K-9 partner, Harv.
"My partner. That's the guy I go to work with every day," he said.
News of the deaths angered some Salem County residents.
"Being an officer, you should know better," said Salem resident Alice Lloyd.
Lloyd added, "An animal is like a child. You don't leave an animal in the car."
Nathan Carrocinn of West Deptford said, "I think they should have better protocols in place."
The Salem County Sheriff's Office said Henderson was immediately suspended after being charged. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 30.