🐾 Police officer charged with animal cruelty after K9 dog dies from heat exposure

On Wednesday, Summary Court viewed CCTV footage showing the death of a Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) canine, Baron, who was left in the summer heat all day without access to shade, food, or water. The dog's caretaker, Officer Timothy Alexander Munroe, has been charged with animal cruelty, a charge he denies. The charge does not hold Munroe responsible for Baron's death, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois, who died in the kennel yard at the George Town Police Station. 🐶

Byron Morgan, a former animal welfare officer with the Department of Agriculture who conducted the independent investigation, explained the footage to the court. He stated that Munroe failed to follow kennel management protocol. Munroe, a new recruit to the K-9 Unit, had cleaned the kennels on the morning of Baron's death and let the dog into the outside yard. However, he forgot to reopen the kennel hatch, preventing Baron from accessing his food and water. The officer did not return until the evening, at which point he found Baron motionless. 🚔

During the court proceedings, text messages between Munroe and his senior officer were read, in which Munroe admitted to forgetting to open the kennel door. Local defense attorney Denis Brady suggested a cover-up, claiming Munroe was being targeted by senior officers to hide their own incompetence. The case continues. ⚖️