Sgt. Lovejoy Found Not Guilty
Apparently, Sgt. Lovejoy, who at the time of the incident was the head of the K-9 unit, had worked long hours and then had to attend to various family matters when he got home. He forgot that Bandit was in the car. The dog was discovered later that night.
There was a great deal of public outcry. It is well known how dangerous hot cars are to dogs in our desert environment, and some people thought that he should have known better. Today's decision should close the matter; the judge decided that the actions resulting in the dog's death were not criminal.
Do you think justice was served in this case?
1) Yes, the dog's death was an accident. It could happen to anyone.
2) No, he was guilty, but he was treated differently because he is a police officer.
Comments
What good does it do to vote? The jury already voted.
I don’t believe there was any jury involved. In any case, sometimes people agree and sometimes they disagree with verdicts….
This was a bench trial and the judge made the right decision. No verdict will ever compare to what Tom has put himself through. He and his family can finally move on with their lives. Bandit will never be forgotten by them.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN FILING CHARGES AGAINST PEOPLE WHO LEAVE ANIMALS IN VEHICLES FOR 18 YEARS. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE GONE TO COURT! THIS WAS SO SENSATIONALIZED. A VERY RESPONSIBLE PERSON WORKED AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH SHIFT THEN HAD NUMEROUS OTHER INCIDENTS TAKE HIM AWAY FROM THE DOG’S CARE.
CHILDREN ARE ACCIDENTALLY LEFT IN VEHICLES AND MEET THE SAME DEMISE WHERE THE PARENTS ARE NOT PROSECUTED.
THIS JURY SHOWED COMMON SENSE AND APPLIED THE LAW CORRECTLY. THIS WAS AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS OFFICER HAS PAID AN UNREASONABLE PRICE FOR A MISTAKE.
this is INSANE… wifey had a panic attack @ work, a fender-bender the kid was in… working WAY too many hrs….
Lovejoy should be punished - legally. Then CPD tried to cover it up… What a screwed up “Judge” & trial
The problem with this is the person who had the “accident” is a police officer in whom we place trust and human lives. How can we do this when he took the life of his K-9 PARTNER? Justice was NOT served here!
This sets a nice precedent for irresponsible pet owners and parents everywhere. A child or a pet (or a K-9 partner) is a huge responsibility. Regardless of “I was busy” excuses, the dog suffered the cruel fate of being baked alive, and the man responsible should not be entrusted with animals again.
There is also the fiscal irresponsibility, even if you don’t care at all about the animal’s suffering: a working police dog is expensive to train and maintain, and taxpayers will just have to pay for another.
That being said, the MCSO arrest and apprehension of this man was unreasonably sensationalized. He was not a flight risk and there was no need for the fanfare. Some time off or suspension to get his busy life in order, with removal from the K-9 patrol, should have sufficed. Now? Who knows.
My dog goes with me everywhere I can take him, but he’s never left in my truck unless the windows are open and I can see him — or at least the truck — from where I’m going. A professional dog handler is well aware of the dangers of canine heat stress, and if he had left a human partner — or even a suspect — in the back of his patrol car unable to get out for 13 hours he would have been charged and convicted regardless of the excuses. A dog is not (thank God) a human being, but this was still an officer of the CPD and a valuable asset to the community.
I understand this was an accident and the officer is probably truly being the hardest on himself knowing he was the sole cause of it. I only ask that Officer Lovejoy take a long, hard look at his priorities in life before accepting responsibility of another canine of any kind for any reason (K-9 or personal).
A very unfortunate situation indeed. That said, let’s remember that police officers have a very hard job. That job LITERALLY requires that the officers risk their lives EVERYDAY. Bearing that in mind, let’s always give them the benefit of the doubt unless a crime or gross negligence can be proven.
I have left things in the car, also. I’ve left my lunch in the car. I’ve left my purse in the car. But I can’t imagine anyone being so distracted & self-absorbed that they forget that there’s a living, breathing being in the car after you get out. That means animal or child. Anyone who is so distracted should not even be driving. This dog was his PARTNER, for God’s sake…and he didn’t give him a thought for 13 hours? I wonder where my cat is at least once an hour, because he is usually in another room. I’m not saying this officer should go to jail or lose his job, but there should be some punishment involved. I hope he is not allowed to be a K-9 officer any longer, at the very least.