K9 Tragedy : Montville police say its K9 officer , Beny , died from injuries consistent with heat stroke , while in the back of a police vehicle in the parking lot of the police department on September 28 . An Ohio cop has been convicted of animal cruelty for letting his police dog roast to death in his patrol car last year . Sergeant Brett Harrison will not face any jail time . His only punishment : a $ 500 fine and court costs . The Montville Township officer outraged the community when he left his two-year-old German Shepard Beny in his squad car for four hours with the windows rolled up last September . The dog was found dead in his kennel in the car when Harrison returned . On Wednesday , Judge Dale M. Chase ruled that Harrison was guilty of one of two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty . Following Beny 's death , Harrison publicly apologized and said he had left the car running with his air conditioning on . He said he did n't mean to leave the dog in a hot car . The temperature when the officer arrived on station was 69 degrees and it was 79 degrees when the dog was found . An investigation concluded Harrison violated policy and procedures . The police department suspended him for two weeks without pay and docked him 40 hours of vacation . Montville Police welcomed K9 Officer Beny to the department in September 2013 . Beny was trained in narcotics and patrol . When Harrison returned to the cruiser after leaving him for four hours , he discovered the dog lying lifeless in the rear passenger compartment ’ s kennel . Sgt . Harrison cared deeply about Beny . He worked with him 40+ hours a week and Beny lived with Sgt . Harrison and his family when the two were off duty . He is said to be overwhelmed with grief . Harrison issued a statement expressing his 'deepest apology ' to Montville Township and to his 'partner , friend and loving family member Beny . ' 'This is a loss that words can not describe , and it is very difficult for everyone involved , ' said Chief Terry Grice . 'There is no doubt that this loss will have a lasting impact on Sgt . Harrison and our entire department . ' A statement from the department also said that Sgt . Harrison cared deeply about Beny . He worked with the dog more than 40 hour a week and Beny lived with Sgt . Harrison and his family when the two were off duty . Sgt . Harrison was overwhelmed with grief and is taking this loss very hard , the chief added . Sgt . Harrison was found to have violated policy and procedures . He received a two-week unpaid suspension and a loss of 40 hours of vacation . Sgt . Brett Harrison didn ’ t leave the windows open and the cruiser was turned off ; the temperature at the time Harrison arrived at the station was 69 degrees and it was 79 degrees when the dog was discovered . Police say Sgt . Harrison has been an exemplary officer who has never received discipline since being hired onto the department in 2007 . Sgt . Harrison had been an exemplary officer who has never received discipline since being hired onto the department on Sept. 11 , 2007 . He came to the department after serving 10 years in the United States Air National Guard , where he was deployed to Qatar during Operation Enduring Freedom . Over the years , he has received awards and praise from law enforcement leaders for his dedication in getting weapons , drugs , and impaired drivers off the roads . The prosecutor for the SPCA of Medina County is reviewing the case to determine whether criminal charges should be filed against the officer . I want to start by expressing my deepest apology to Montville Township , the Trustees , the citizens , the police department , my fellow officers and to my partner , Beny . I 'm sorry to bringing this upon everyone . I apologize to the trustees and police department for putting you all in this horrible position . I know that it is an unenviable position to have to deal with a situation as sad as this . I 'm also sorry for the sadness and grief that you were put into . Most of all , I want to say I 'm sorry to my partner , friend and loving family member Beny . I wish everyday that I could go back and change that day or that I could put myself in your place . You will always be in my heart and I will miss you every second of every day . I want you all to know that I will never forget any of this . Once again , I am sorry . Sincerely , . Brett Harrison .
German shepherd , Beny , died after his handler Sgt . Brett Harrison left him in a hot car . Despite expressing remorse and his exemplary police work over September 28 , the cop was hit with criminal charges . Convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty .