The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has reassigned a dog handler and his supervisor to non-canine duties following an investigation into the death of a drug interdiction dog that was left locked in a hot car earlier this month at the State Correctional Institute – Rockview in Benner Township.
Corrections Secretary John Wetzel announced in a news release Thursday that the two individuals had been removed from the Drug Interdiction Unit following an internal investigation by the department’s Office of Special Investigations and Intelligence. An internal review will be conducted to determine if any disciplinary action will be taken. The trainer was previously identified as Sgt. Chad Holland, who has been with the department for nine years, but his supervisor was only identified as a captain. A senior corrections officer with military K9 experience has been assigned to lead the Drug Interdiction Unit.
“While the investigation concluded that this was not an intentional act and we recognize that those involved are devastated by what happened – as all of us are – this does not excuse the outcome,” said Wetzel. “Therefore I have moved both individuals out of the unit and we will let the disciplinary process take its course.”
Totti, a 2-year-old yellow labrador retriever, was left in the car for nearly three hours on July 7 following a training exercise.
‘[Totti] was unconscious but alive when he was discovered,’ the news release said. ‘First aid was rendered at the scene and he was rushed to an area veterinarian. Despite the emergency treatment, Totti died several hours later from a heat-related seizure while in veterinary care.’
The Centre County District Attorney’s office is investigating Totti’s death.
‘The DOC is fully cooperating with the Centre County District Attorney’s Office and is providing the investigative report, along with any additional information requested, to the DA’s office and to the Pennsylvania State Police,’ the news release stated.
The investigative report also made several recommendations, which the DOC is evaluating. They include:
• Updating position descriptions to specifically reflect the duties and responsibilities of employees while working and training at the department’s K9 training academy.
• Reviewing the Drug Interdiction Unit policy to address specific responsibilities for staff assigned to the K9 training academy.
• Reviewing the Drug Interdiction Unit policy to address specific responsibility and care of unassigned dogs while kept at the K9 training academy, including the transporting and holding of dogs in vehicles
The department also is examining the purchase of heat alarm equipment for K9 vehicles ‘in order to help prevent a similar situation from happening in the future.’
The Drug Interdiction Unit is part of the department’s Security Division and is, in part, responsible for detecting narcotics in the state prisons. This was the first incident of its kind since the unit was established in 1995. The unit has 20 handlers and 22 dogs.
A department spokeswoman previously said Totti had been with the department for about five weeks and was in training to replace an older dog in the unit. Dogs and their handlers have regular mandatory training at a central boot camp and at Rockview. The dog and handler teams work all across the state.
