Police K-9 Succumbs to Heat in Fla. Kennel

LAKE CITY, Fla. --

A Lake City K-9 officer named Trooper was found dead Friday. Trooper was off duty at a home contained in his kennel, when his handler, Officer Kevin Johns, left the residence. Jones returned home less than two hours later to find Trooper dead.

Johns contacted the police department and reported the incident. Trooper was transported to a veterinarian for an autopsy. The autopsy revealed the cause of death was due to heat exhaustion.

Trooper is a 7-year-old Malinois K-9. He served as a K-9 officer for the Lake City Police Department since January 2010. Trooper was certified in the detection of drugs and narcotics.

An administrative investigation into Trooper's death will be conducted.

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