The Alabama police officer responsible for the death of his department’s dog, Mason, has not resigned from the force. Rumors began circulating on social media Tuesday that Corporal Josh Coleman was leaving the Gulf Shores Police Department in wake of Mason’s death, a tragedy that has since become a controversy in southern Alabama.
Coleman accidentally left Mason inside his hot Gulf Shores patrol car for at least an hour, leading to the dog’s death from respiratory failure in a Pensacola veterinarian’s hospital Friday night. Coleman is taking some time away from his professional duties due to being “devastated” and “deeply saddened” over losing Mason, who lived with Coleman and his family.
As reported on Tuesday, Coleman could face charges for Mason’s death. Coleman’s actions are currently under investigation. The investigation will be brought to a Baldwin County Grand Jury for review.
Gulf Shores Police Sgt. Jason Woodruff said the dog was a valuable member of the department, even though he was a “community relations” dog and not a drug enforcement K-9 officer. “While he was not used to find drugs or people, his big thing, he was basically a bridge between the police department and the community,” Woodruff said.
Executive Director of the Baldwin County Humane Society Stephen Savage calls the death a tragedy that never should have happened. “If you are a police officer or a regular citizen you cannot leave an animal in the car or a child or an elderly person in a car and walk away and forget about it, it’s just not right. It’s negligence and it should be taken care of,” Savage said.
For Coleman, Mason was like a family pet who worked at the police department occasionally. “It was a terrible mistake,” Woodruff said. “Accidental but terrible.”
Coleman has been sanctioned by the police department but specifics are not being released to the public. “We’re very sorry. Josh is very sorry,” Woodruff said.