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Police Use Technology To Protect K9 Partners From Heat-Related Hazards

TPD K9 Officer Yamil Ercarnacion and Yasso (photo: Brian Bull)
TPD K9 Officer Yamil Ercarnacion and Yasso (photo: Brian Bull)

In Montville Township last September, a police K9 dog died after being left in a hot cruiser for four hours. Altogether, about 30 police dogs across the U.S. have died since 2012….not in the line of duty, but trapped in squad vehicles during hot weather.  As ideastream’s Brian Bull reports, one local K9 unit  is stepping up efforts to keep its four-legged partners safe.

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“This is one of the sensors right here, on each side…which basically takes the average temperature one each side of the vehicle…” 

Twinsburg K9 Police Officer Yamil Encarnacion explains the Hot’N-Pop system recently installed in his vehicle.  His partner, a German Shepherd named Yasso, sits attentively in the back seat.

“The system has a pre-set temperature. So if it meets that temperature setting it automatically alarms by sounding the horn and also dropping both windows in the back….” 

The price tag for Twinsburg’s system? About $1100…on top of the cost for Yasso.  

“The average cost for a canine, especially for him, was about $12,000-13,000.  That’s for the dog, the training, and equipment.  It’s a small amount to pay to keep him safe.  Yasso is my partner, I mean he’s like family.” 

Twinsburg’s PD has not suffered the loss of a K9 animal to heat-related causes.

Altogether, there are about 20.000 police dogs serving in K9 units, according to the North American Police Work Dog Association.