Dog Unintentionally Left in Police Vehicle, Dies of Heat

A police dog left in his handler's vehicle was found dead after the Chandler officer returned to the vehicle.

Their dog, named Bandit, died of extreme heat.

The incident occurred Saturday when Sergeant Tom Lovejoy returned home after an assignment and forgot that Bandit was in his vehicle.

It was later in the day when he found Bandit already dead.

"Later on during the day when he went out to the vehicle to retrieve some other items, he discovered that the dog was dead in the car," said Chandler police spokesman Rick Griner.

Griner said Lovejoy treated Bandit like a family member.

"The officer is very saddened by it. The department is very saddened by it. It's a tragic, tragic mistake," said Griner.

Griner told KTAR News Lovejoy could face discipline, but criminal charges have been ruled out.

The high temperature in Phoenix on Saturday reached 109 degrees.

Today's news comes in the midst of a late summer heatwave.

Kim Noetzel with the Arizona Humane Society said the air temperature inside an idle car in 100-plus degree heat can easily reach 200 degrees within minutes.