Anthony
Super Moderator
Wednesday morning the Bennettsville Police Department buried Tank, a Black Labrador Retriever, in an area near the departments training grounds.
Bennettsville Police Chief Larry McNeil told reporters on Monday Tank's partner parked his car outside the police department and went inside to get a couple of things done. He didn't think he was going to be inside very long so he left his partner Tank inside the car with the engine off and the windows up.
A source said when the officer came back out he notice the K-9 laying in the back not moving. He was immediately taken to a local veterinarian's office where he died on Tuesday.
Chief McNeil said the officer, whose name hasn't been released, is overwhelmed with grief over his partner's death.
"Difficult and heart-wrenching in a sense because it's never expected. This untimely death of Tank is one that's going to stay with the department. He won't be forgotten," said Chief McNeil.
The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending an outcome into the investigation.
"I don't think people realize how much and how it's going to affect his partner. And how it's going to affect that family because when you're with someone for 365 days a year 24 hours a day, just about everyday, it has an impact on your life after. And we realize that with Tank's partner I don't think anybody would be more hurt right now than he and his family, " explained McNeil.
"They love these animals. They take them with them all the time. And it's just a very sad thing. And accidents happen with people and animals," said former Mayor Lucy Mills Parsons.
The police department has received a lot of criticism over Tank's death.
Some people in the community are calling for the officer to be fired and even charged with animal neglect.
How do you forget about your partner, asked a person who was outside the police department.
Another person wanted to know "What would happen if a civilian did this and was arrested for the crime"?
McNeil told reporters the investigation is ongoing, and the officer won't be allowed to be a part of the K-9 Unit again.
He absolutely should be charged and should be removed from the K-9 unit permanently, said another person when he heard the news.
Tank was four years old and had worked with Bennettsville police for three years in explosives detection.
"Tank never realized the job he performed for us and the community was probably one of the most dangerous jobs that anybody would want to have," McNeil said.
Bennettsville Police Chief Larry McNeil told reporters on Monday Tank's partner parked his car outside the police department and went inside to get a couple of things done. He didn't think he was going to be inside very long so he left his partner Tank inside the car with the engine off and the windows up.
A source said when the officer came back out he notice the K-9 laying in the back not moving. He was immediately taken to a local veterinarian's office where he died on Tuesday.
Chief McNeil said the officer, whose name hasn't been released, is overwhelmed with grief over his partner's death.
"Difficult and heart-wrenching in a sense because it's never expected. This untimely death of Tank is one that's going to stay with the department. He won't be forgotten," said Chief McNeil.
The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending an outcome into the investigation.
"I don't think people realize how much and how it's going to affect his partner. And how it's going to affect that family because when you're with someone for 365 days a year 24 hours a day, just about everyday, it has an impact on your life after. And we realize that with Tank's partner I don't think anybody would be more hurt right now than he and his family, " explained McNeil.
"They love these animals. They take them with them all the time. And it's just a very sad thing. And accidents happen with people and animals," said former Mayor Lucy Mills Parsons.
The police department has received a lot of criticism over Tank's death.
Some people in the community are calling for the officer to be fired and even charged with animal neglect.
How do you forget about your partner, asked a person who was outside the police department.
Another person wanted to know "What would happen if a civilian did this and was arrested for the crime"?
McNeil told reporters the investigation is ongoing, and the officer won't be allowed to be a part of the K-9 Unit again.
He absolutely should be charged and should be removed from the K-9 unit permanently, said another person when he heard the news.
Tank was four years old and had worked with Bennettsville police for three years in explosives detection.
"Tank never realized the job he performed for us and the community was probably one of the most dangerous jobs that anybody would want to have," McNeil said.
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