Criminal charges won't be filed for death of Coalinga police K9, district attorney says

COALINGA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Criminal charges volition not beryllium filed for decease of Coalinga constabulary K9, Nitro.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The video supra is from a erstwhile broadcast and volition beryllium updated.

The announcement was made by Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp connected Friday.

In her statement, Smittcamp said, "Make nary mistake, Nitro's decease was some tragic and preventable, but the instrumentality does not enactment transgression charges based connected these facts against either the handler oregon his family."

In July 2024, Nitro was recovered successful his outdoor kennel astatine his handler's home. He was rushed to the infirmary aft looking lethargic, wherever helium died.

The half-German Shepherd and half-Belgian Malinois was 4 years aged and joined the section successful March 2022.

Nitro had not been connected the occupation for respective months due to the fact that his handler had been retired connected workers comp.

Smittcamp, however, said, that the lawsuit revealed that the Coalinga Police Department's K9 policies request revisions and improvements.

Her bureau outline respective argumentation alteration recommendations:

• Establishing a vigor argumentation to support canines during Central Valley's utmost summertime temperatures.
• Enforcing impermanent relocation protocols erstwhile handlers are unavailable oregon incapable to decently attraction for their canines.
• Setting minimum standards for canine equipment, specified arsenic capable h2o sources, cooling devices, and kennel inspections.
• Clarifying the relation of household members successful exigency attraction situations erstwhile handlers are unavailable.

The DA's Office emphasized Coalinga PD's argumentation shortcomings, alternatively than intentional wrongdoing, placed Nitro successful unsafe conditions which contributed to his death.

During his clip astatine the department, Nitro was a portion of the narcotics squad and helped with respective arrests.

Nitro was 1 of 2 constabulary dogs astatine the department.

This is simply a processing story. Stay with Action News for updates.