Pennsylvania Police Officer Suspended 60 Days In K-9's Death
NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP) -- A western Pennsylvania police officer will remain suspended without pay for 60 days because the police dog he handled died from heat stroke from being left in a hot squad car for nearly four hours.
New Castle police Officer James Hoyland did not attend the city council hearing at which the suspension was imposed Wednesday night and does not have a listed phone.
Hoyland has been suspended without pay since June 6, and the suspension imposed by council is retroactive to that date. He also will not be allowed to handle police dogs for the 37-officer department about 45 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.
Police Chief Thomas Sansone was the only person to testify at Wednesday's disciplinary hearing, saying the 6-year-old Dutch shepherd named Chico died in Hoyland's cruiser on June 4 while temperatures were in the 80s.
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