A New Jersey law enforcement officer is facing charges after allegedly leaving two police dogs in a hot patrol car, leading to their deaths. Cody L. Henderson, 41, a sergeant with the Salem County Sheriff's Office and in charge of the K-9 unit, has been accused of causing the deaths of K-9 Officer Rip, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, and Boomer, a six-year-old springer spaniel, on May 29.
Prosecutors allege that Henderson left the dogs unattended in his 2023 Chevy Tahoe patrol vehicle for approximately seven hours, from 8:26 a.m. to 3:34 p.m. He has been charged with 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. These charges carry a potential sentence of up to 18 months in prison in New Jersey. Additional counts of animal cruelty have also been filed.
A preliminary investigation suggests the vehicle's heat alert system may have been manually turned off. Furthermore, a vehicle maintenance log reportedly indicated a pending air conditioning malfunction repair.
A necropsy conducted by the New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory concluded that the dogs likely died from hyperthermia. On the day of their deaths, the outdoor temperature reached 77 degrees Fahrenheit, though authorities note that the interior of a vehicle can rapidly reach dangerous temperatures.
According to the complaint filed in Salem City Municipal Court, indoor kennels for the dogs were available, but Henderson allegedly did not utilize them. He reportedly found the dogs unresponsive when he returned to his police car from inside the Salem County Courthouse around 3:30 p.m. Henderson then transported the K-9s to a veterinarian in Delaware, where they were pronounced deceased.
The Salem County Prosecutor's Office was notified of the dogs' deaths on the evening of May 29 and launched an immediate investigation. Henderson is scheduled to appear in Salem County Court on July 30 and has been placed on unpaid leave.
The Salem County Sheriff's Office issued a statement expressing deep sadness over the loss of Rip and Boomer, calling them "partners" who exemplified "the highest standards of service, loyalty, and dedication." The office deferred further comment to the prosecutor's office. Earlier, on June 1, the sheriff's office had requested that the community keep the K-9 handler, his family, and the entire K-9 unit in their thoughts and prayers.