NSW Police has launched a “priority” investigation after two police dogs died inside a vehicle in Sydney’s south.
Two German Shepherds known as police dog Xtra and development dog Soldier were found dead by their handler inside a police vehicle at Lucas Heights at about 12:30pm on Thursday.
PD Xtra and DD Soldier were taken to a specialist veterinary clinic but were unable to be revived.
The dogs and their handler had attended a training day at a facility in the area.
NSW Police said the the dogs were inside the air-conditioned pods of the purpose-built police vehicle.
An investigation into the incident is underway, which will be overseen by detectives attached to Sutherland Police Area Command and Fleet Services.
Xtra was seven years old. (Supplied: NSW Police)
Police believe dogs’ deaths caused by ‘technical issue’
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told ABC Radio Sydney that the dogs were “two valuable members of our organisation”.
“We’re all devastated,” she said.
“[It’s a] very tragic circumstance, and a priority investigation is underway at the moment.”
The dogs had been “exercised” and went through a routine check before they were found.
Comissioner Webb confirmed police believe a fault with the air conditioner was behind the deaths.
“What we do know is that we suspect a technical issue and no human error,” she said.
“That’s how we understand it.”
The pods inside the vehicle, which are specially developed for police dogs, had been “in operation for a few months”.
The vehicle was towed away and will undergo a mechanical examination as part of the investigation.
Comissioner Webb said the examination will “see if that’s the issue and why in fact that happened, because that’s not meant to happen at all”.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said a “priority investigation” was underway. (ABC News: Ethan Rix)
‘A very sad day for the dog unit’
The commissioner said it was “a very sad day for the dog unit”.
“The thoughts of the whole police family are with them,” she said.
“We owe it to PD Xtra and DD Soldier to conduct a thorough investigation.”
PD Xtra was accredited as a general-purpose dog in July 2018 and was attached to the Newcastle/Central Coast Dog Unit.
Xtra back in 2017 as a puppy, alongside the other puppies that were part of the new canine recruit pack at the time. (Supplied: NSW Police)
When Xtra was a new canine recruit in 2017, his name was chosen by chronically ill kids from The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
A list of suggested names starting with the letter ‘X’ was provided to the hospital. The dog unit commander at the time said the involvement of the community in the puppy naming process is a long running tradition.
DD Soldier had commenced service in February of this year for training and development.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty said ongoing support services were being made available to staff involved.
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