A Hawaii Police Department dog, Archer, died Thursday after “left unattended in a police vehicle for an unacceptable period of time,” department officials said Friday.

“This was a preventable tragedy. Dogs should not be left unattended in a vehicle for any period of time,” Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna said in a news release. “Archer was not just a police dog, he was a partner, protector, and a member of our police family.”

“The K9 handler involved in this case is devastated as you would expect,” Mahuna said. “Nevertheless, a thorough criminal and administrative investigation will be conducted. We are committed to accountability and making sure something like this never happens again.”

The department will conduct a review of K9 policies and procedures to determine ifany adjustments c

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