A former police officer Petty crime On September 10, 2023, he accidentally left a police dog inside his patrol car, causing it to die.
According to the affidavit, Kyle James Vincent had only just become certified to work with Zeus a month before he left the dog inside his patrol car at the end of his shift in Fairmount, Indiana, around 6 a.m. Twelve hours later, at 6 p.m., at the start of his shift, the officer was getting ready to work when he discovered the dog still in its kennel in the patrol car.
“He said it was stupid and there was no room for justifying a false story.”
The 36-year-old man told investigators that after he realized his dog was dead, he collapsed to the ground and “cried for 20 minutes.”
According to court records, Fairmount Police Chief Richard Darrah said an officer called him on Sept. 10 to say his wife had found her dog dead while getting ready for work.
The deputy transported the dog’s body to a veterinary clinic and seized Vincent’s police identification, service weapon and badge.
Records show the patrol car was equipped with a temperature alarm.
Investigators said Vincent gave several conflicting explanations for the dog’s death. He later admitted to leaving the dog in the car and blamed it on PTSD and severe “brain fog.” He said he was depressed and unmotivated the day he left Zeus in the car.
Indiana State Police Detective Jonathan Cole said Vincent was calm and quiet during the interview.
Asked if it was reckless to work when he was depressed, Vincent acknowledged he should have told someone how distressed he was.
“He said it was stupid and there was no justification for a false story.” read Criminal charges.
The Fairmont Police Department initially placed the officer on administrative leave, but two days after the dog’s death, Vincent Resigned From the police.
The officer was charged with Level A misdemeanor animal cruelty to a vertebrate animal.
Fairmount is a city of about 2,600 people located 90 minutes northeast of downtown Indianapolis.
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