New Jersey cop in charge of K-9 unit left two dogs to die in hot police car, prosecutors say

By WILKO MARTÍNEZ-CACHERO, US REPORTER Published: 05:50, 9 July 2026 | Updated: 05:51, 9 July 2026 A New Jersey cop in charge of the K-9 unit allegedly left two dogs to die in a scorching hot police car, according to prosecutors. Cody L. Henderson, 41, was accused of causing the deaths of K-9 Officer Rip, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, and Boomer, a six-year-old springer spaniel, on May 29. Henderson allegedly left the dogs unattended in his 2023 Chevy Tahoe patrol car for about seven hours from 8.26am to 3.34pm, according to a complaint filed in Salem City Municipal Court viewed by the Daily Mail. He was charged Tuesday with two third-degree counts of purposefully, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to a living animal by failing to provide necessary care, resulting in death. That can carry up to an 18-month prison sentence in New Jersey. Henderson was also charged with additional counts of animal cruelty, according to the prosecutor's office. The car's heat alert system had been presumably manually turned off, a preliminary investigation found. Additionally, a vehicle maintenance log allegedly showed a pending air conditioning malfunction fix, according to the complaint. Salem County Sheriff's Office sergeant Cody L. Henderson, 41, who was charged Tuesday with causing the deaths of two police K-9s in his care. Boomer is pictured here Henderson (second from the left) has been placed on unpaid leave after being charged. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 30 A necropsy performed by the New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory veterinarian determined that the dogs' deaths were likely caused by hyperthermia. On the day the dogs died, the temperature reached 77 degrees, according to Patch New Jersey. However, the inside of a car can reach dangerous temperatures in only a matter of minutes. The prosecutor's office claimed that indoor kennels for the dogs were 'readily available.' However, Henderson allegedly did not use them. Instead, the police officer found the dogs when he came out to his police car from inside the Salem County Courthouse around 3.30pm that day. He proceeded to drive the K-9s to a veterinarian in Delaware, but the police dogs did not survive. Rip, one of the two dogs who died on May 29 when he was allegedly locked in Henderson's police car for approximately seven hours According to the complaint, the Salem County Prosecutor's Office learned about the dogs' deaths that same evening. They immediately began looking into the case, authorities said. Henderson is scheduled to appear in Salem County Court on July 30, according to NBC Philadelphia. He has been placed on unpaid leave after being charged, according to the outlet. On Wednesday morning, the Salem County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook that they remained 'deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our K-9 partners, Rip and Boomer.' The sheriff's office acknowledged that Henderson had been charged in connection with the canines' deaths by the Salem County Prosecutor's Office, but did not make any further comment on the law enforcement officer. 'Rip and Boomer exemplified the highest standards of service, loyalty, and dedication,' the sheriff's office continued. 'Their contributions to public safety and their commitment to duty will not be forgotten.' On June 1, two days after the dogs died, the sheriff's office had asked to 'please keep our K-9 handler and his family, along with our entire K-9 unit, in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.' The Daily Mail has reached out to the Salem County Prosecutor's Office for comment, as the sheriff's office said they would defer all questions their way.