I have a very personal attachment to Chandler Arizona Police Department. I have known most all of the ole timers for years. It was Chandler PD that worked with me on my children's case, so I have a special bond with all the guys.

Sgt. Tom Lovejoy, was also a personal friend and I also knew Bandit his K-9. One of Tom's other K-9's helped our family in some interesting situations along the way.

Tom Lovejoy is still on duty and, if found to have violated policy, could face department punishment.

He discovered that the dog, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois named Bandit, had died in his police sport utility vehicle parked outside his house about 10 p.m. Saturday.

Preliminary information indicates that Bandit succumbed to the extreme heat.

“It’s very tragic,” Griner said. “The sergeant is very upset about this.”

Lovejoy had returned home at 9:15 a.m. Saturday after completing a three-hour parking enforcement detail in downtown Chandler. Lovejoy took Bandit in case he was called out to help in the investigation of the serial rapist.

Bandit was one of six police K-9s. He lived with Lovejoy and was trained to protect officers and to sniff out explosives. In 2007, Bandit and Lovejoy took fourth place at the Desert Dog Police K-9 Trials.

My friend Tom Lovejoy has been the supervisor of the K-9 unit for fourand-a-half years and has been a sergeant with the department for the last seven years. Tom returned home from duty Saturday evening to find out his son had been in a car accident, and because of that situation with his son, he forgot his best friend and buddy that so many times over the years had been a hero.l

On Saturday, the high temperature was 109 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Ten minutes in 100-degree heat can raise the temperature to 140 degrees inside a vehicle, Chandler fire spokesman Dan Couch said.

Couch said the number of pets left in vehicles is far lower than the number of children left in vehicles. He estimated that there are incidents of unattended pets about two or three times each month in Chandler.

Following is a response from Sgt. Rick Griner, another great Officer and friend explaining what led up to the death of Bandit.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/video/130

I am and always will be attached personally to this case, as all of these Officers including Bandit the K-9 were and still are my friends.

Tom is devastated at the loss of Bandit. Please pray for Tom and his family for their great loss. Bandit was loved by many in Chandler and most definitely a hero.

I will need your prayers also, as I will be attending some memorial services tomorrow eveing with CPD and Bandits Officers that so dearly loved him along with many citizens from our community.

Also, please pray that all of the people hollering and yelling and complaining that they want Tom charged with Bandits death come to terms with the fact, that in any other circumstance, I know that Tom would have given his life to save Bandit.

With much sadness I thank each of you for praying for all of us.

Thank you,
Sher

I