Sad: Cop's Negligence Leads to Dog's Death

Lt. Curtis Endicott (right) paid a $256.25 fine in municipal court and was on 17 days paid administrative leave during the department's internal affairs and criminal investigations.

Marco died of heat stroke when Lt. Curtis Endicott left him in a closed police car.

Acworth cop charged with animal cruelty

In September, police dog died of heat stroke after being left in the car

By YOLANDA RODRÍGUEZ
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/20/07

An Acworth police officer whose canine partner died of heat stroke in September has been charged with violating the city's cruelty to animals ordinance and removed from the K-9 Unit.

Marco died of heat stroke when Lt. Curtis Endicott left him in a closed police car.

Lt. Curtis Endicott paid a $256.25 fine Thursday in municipal court, said Captain Wayne Dennard, a department spokesman. Endicott was on 17 days paid administrative leave during the department's internal affairs and criminal investigations.

Removal from the K-9 unit means a $10,000 reduction in Endicott's annual salary and the loss of his take-home police car, Dennard said.

Marco died of heat stroke when Endicott left him in a closed police car.

On Sept. 3, Endicott was moving his equipment from the patrol car into another cruiser because his dashboard camera was not working. While he was doing that Endicott, a shift commander, was called inside police headquarters.

He left Marco inside the closed car, which was turned off.

"He just forgot the dog," Dennard said. "Both investigations revealed that while there was no intent, his oversight resulted in the death of canine Marco."

Because the car was turned off, a canine protection system, which cools an overheated vehicle, did not activate.

"It would have functioned had it been on," Dennard said.,

The loss of Marco, a 6-year-old Belgian malinois, has been difficult for the veteran police officer, Dennard said.

Endicott and Marco were partners for five years. The drug-sniffing dog had found thousands of dollars worth of cocaine during their time together. The two also made frequent appearances at community events and in local schools.

"He's an animal lover and animal advocate," Dennard said.

In the past year, Endicott found a hawk that had been hit by a vehicle. He took it took to the veterinarian and nursed it back to health. Endicott later released it at Berry College in Floyd County, Dennard said.

Endicott took the hawk to the same veterinarian the department uses for its police dogs —the same vet who pronounced Marco dead.

Police Chief Michael Wilkie consulted with the Cobb District Attorney's Office on the case, but no felony charges were brought against Endicott.

Violation of the city ordinance is a misdemeanor. Endicott retains his job as a shift commander and his rank. He goes back to work on Monday.

"It's always difficult to charge one of your own," Dennard said. "But we are professionals, and we all signed on to do the job. And we do the job."

ACWORTH CITY CODE

Sec. 14-12. Cruelty to animals.

(c) Whoever confines any animal and fails to supply sufficient quantities of wholesome food and water, or who keeps any animals in any enclosure without wholesome exercise and change of air, or abandons to die any animal shall be deemed to be in violation of this chapter.