ARCHER IS JUST ONE OF A NUMBER OF K9S THAT HAVE DIED AFTER BEING LEFT IN HOT COP CARS

Beloved narcotics K9 Archer dies after being left in hot cop car for 'unacceptable' amount of time

 

By Jensen Bird 

 

Daily Mail

Sep 9, 2025

 

 

 

Archer, a six-year-old narcotics dog, died on September 4 after being left to overheat in a patrol car 

 

A much-loved police dog has died after being left in a hot car for an 'unacceptable' amount of time.

Archer, a six-year-old narcotics K9, began serving in the Hawaii police force in 2021. 

Following the dog's death on September 4, Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna released a statement honoring the long-standing member of their team. 

He said: 'This was a preventable tragedy, dogs should not be left unattended in a vehicle for any period of time.

'Archer was not just a police dog, he was a partner, protector, and a member of our police family.'

Archer was trained in narcotics detection and served in the department's Vice Section based in West Hawaii. 

He worked alongside his handler Sidra Brown to keep dangerous drugs off of Hawaii's streets and participated in numerous drug-bust operations. 

Using his sense of smell, Archer was trained to find small amounts of drugs hidden in vehicles, buildings, and parcels and aid Hawaii's fight against drug trafficking. 

Officer Brown is the only female K9 handler at the department. She's been with the Hawaii Police for more than ten years.

The Hawaii Police department said Brown is 'devastated' by her partner's death. 

However, Mahuna said they will be investigating Archer's handle: 'A thorough criminal and administrative investigation will be conducted. 

'We are committed to accountability and making sure something like this never happens again.'

The police department will also do an extensive review of their K9 policies. They hope to find and fix any holes in their procedures to prevent other dogs from dying on duty. 

Mahuna advised: 'Please be mindful that you should never leave a dog in a hot car.' 

Archer was reportedly left the the patrol car in Hawaii's heat for an 'unacceptable' period of time. On the day of his death, the temperature reached 90 degrees.

According to State Farm hundreds of dogs die from overheating every year.

 

Officer Sidra Brown is 'devastated' by her partner's death but will be thoroughly investigated by the Hawaii Police force

 

Even with the windows cracked, temperatures inside of a vehicle can heat up quickly and are often warmer than the air outside. 

For example, on a 90 degree day, a car can heat up to 124 degrees in just thirty minutes.  

Experts advise pet owners to never leave their dog in the car, no matter the how cool it seems outside.  

In their announcement of Archer's death, the department call him a 'loyal and dedicated partner.' They thanked their community for their support as they mourn the loss of the beloved dog.

The Belgian Malinois and German Shepard mix was originally from Hungary. 

According to the department's website, said he enjoyed 'looking handsome and eating mangoes'.