Muldrow Police Dog Dies When SUV Air Conditioner Malfunctions

The Muldrow Police Department believes malfunctioning AC in a patrol vehicle killed its K9 officer "Zeke" last week.

The department said the dog died while sitting inside a running patrol SUV on July 23, 2015. 

Officials told KFSM, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith the officer assigned to the dog was inside the police station at the time working on a report.  They said Zeke was in a running 2014 Chevy Tahoe with the air conditioning on.  When the officer returned about an hour and a half later, he found the air conditioner had malfunctioned and was blowing hot air.

The department said the dog's death was most likely due to a mechanical failure of the vehicle.

Muldrow Police released a statement on their Facebook page:

"It is with great sadness that we inform our residents of the passing of our K9 Zeke. Zeke was seven years old and worked for MPD for over 4 years. Zeke assisted in over a hundred alerts over his career resulting in numerous drug arrests. Zeke passed as a result of heat stroke from a malfunctioning patrol unit. Thank you to the many individuals, businesses, and Cherokee Nation who assisted with donations in obtaining the funds to purchase him. Zeke will be missed and I ask for your thoughts and prayers for Brad Roberts and Current handler Robert Allen who are missing their partner."