NJ Police Dog Dies in Baking Car, Malfunctions Blamed

The system should have turned on a fan and lowered the windows, officials say

Officials are blaming malfunctions in a patrol car in the heat death of a New Jersey police dog.     

The car's air conditioning wasn't working properly and an alarm should have alerted Camden Patrolman Gabriel Rodriguez that the vehicle was overheating with K-9 Serge inside.

The system also should have turned on a fan and lowered the windows. None of that happened.

The dog was left in the car for two hours as the temperature inside the vehicle rose to deadly levels on Thursday.

The German shepherd had joined the police force in May.     

Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson tells The Courier-Post of Cherry Hill an independent mechanic will examine the system.     

Thompson says the dog's partner is devastated by the death. 

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