From NBC 7 in San Diego:
ALPINE — City and county authorities are investigating the death of a San Diego police dog whose body was found in the back seat of a patrol car at his handler’s home.
According to the San Diego Police Department, the dog was a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois named Forrest. Forrest stayed with his handler at this house in Alpine, about 20 miles east of downtown San Diego.
Sources familiar with the investigation identified the dog’s handler as Paul Hubka, a 22-year veteran who’s a director of the San Diego Police Officers Association. Sources told NBC 7/39 Hubka returned from an overnight shift, went into his house, and came out a few hours later to discover Forrest’s body in the back seat of his patrol car.
Police, sheriff’s deputies and animal control officers converged on the neighborhood and began an investigation that’s still awaiting necropsy results.
Creepy. Poor dog officer. They are so brave and so loyal.
Speaking of which, how is Vicino doing in Pasadena as far as disclosure to the press?
The LA Times article seems to be a little more explicit on the probably cause of death, and puts this event in the context of past problems with San Diego’s K9 unit: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-policedog26-2008jun26,0,1480917.story