Pitt deputies call K-9's death in hot vehicle a tragic accident

The Pitt County Sheriff's Office says the death of one of its K-9s last month was the result of a tragic accident and is renewing its push to upgrade aging K-9 vehicles with additional safety features. K-9 Chilli died June 11 in what the sheriff's office described as a hot vehicle incident. The sheriff's office said it launched a comprehensive internal investigation the following day. After reviewing the available evidence, the agency concluded Chilli's death was accidental. Officials described the deputy involved as an experienced K-9 handler with an exemplary record who previously served four years as an Army Ranger before joining the sheriff's office. The agency said the deputy and his family are devoted animal lovers and have cared for multiple dogs and cats. After his previous K-9 partner, Keno, retired, the deputy adopted him and cared for him until the dog died from cancer. "The deputy and his family have been deeply affected by Chilli's death and continue to mourn this loss," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "Those who work with law enforcement K-9s understand these animals are far more than working partners, they become members of the handler's family." The sheriff's office said Pitt County offers Employee Assistance Program counseling resources to employees who experience traumatic events. The agency also said Chilli's death has highlighted the need to modernize its K-9 fleet. Officials said they will continue asking the Pitt County Board of Commissioners to fund purpose-built K-9 vehicles equipped with safety technology such as Hot-N-Pop systems, which monitor interior temperatures and can help protect K-9s during emergencies. According to the sheriff's office, some K-9 vehicles already have the technology, but budget constraints have prevented every handler from receiving an upgraded unit. Officials said the deputy partnered with Chilli was not assigned a vehicle equipped with those safety features. The sheriff's office said it remains committed to improving equipment and resources to help prevent similar incidents in the future.