Salem K-9 charges revive outrage over another NJ police dog death with no answers

🚨Salem County charged a sheriff's K-9 handler after 2 police dogs died SUV.

🚨A Gloucester County commissioner says another K-9 death investigation dragged on

🚨The Attorney General's Office says it does not provide updates on  investigations

SALEM — It's a tale of two K-9 death investigations in two counties.

Criminal charges filed this week against a Salem County sheriff's K-9 handler are reigniting frustration in neighboring Gloucester County, where a similar police dog death has lingered under state investigation for nearly four years without any public resolution.

The contrast between the two cases has become the story. In Salem County, investigators announced charges just weeks after two sheriff's K-9s died inside a patrol SUV. In Gloucester County, Commissioner Chris Konawel says the state has never publicly explained what happened after Fire Marshal K-9 Ember died under similar circumstances in 2022 or whether anyone will face charges.

Sgt. Cody Henderson, the handler of Boomer and Rip, faces several charges after he found them dead in his police SUV on May 29 while on duty. They were pronounced dead a Delaware veterinarian and the case was referred to the Salem County Prosecutor's Office.

After an investigation found the windows were left up and the air conditioner was not working charges were filed just over a month later. Henderson was placed on unpaid leave.

The deaths of K-9s Rip and Boomer are reminiscent of the death of Ember, a fire marshal K-9 who died while in the care of Gloucester County Shawn Layton in 2022. Ember and Layton's own dog died while inside Layton's county-issued 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe. Layton buried both dogs in his backyard and created a ceremonial plot complete with a memorial fire hydrant.

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Former Gloucester County K9 Ember

Gloucester commissioner questions differing timelines

Unlike the Salem investigation, the Gloucester County case was turned over to the Attorney General's Office under then-Attorney General Matt Platkin.

No findings or charging decisions have ever been announced.

Konawel said Salem County's quick resolution only deepened questions about why the Gloucester investigation remains unresolved.

"I find it crazy that Salem County was able to solve this in about a month, maybe five weeks. By the way, Salem County Prosecutor's Office handled it on their own. They didn't kick it to the state," the Republican said on "Jersey Thing with Eric Scott" on Wednesday.

Konawel said that the office under Jennifer Davenport has not responded to his requests for an update.

"I think that's probably the standing practice of what New Jersey is all about, right? Protect one of their own and not be forthcoming with the public. I think New Jersey's had enough of corruption and I think New Jersey's had enough of incompetency and I think we see quite a bit of it in this case in particular."

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K-9s Rip and Boomber from the Salem County Sheriff's Office

Attorney General's Office won't discuss investigation

Konawel thinks the case has kept everyone connected with the case, especially Layton, in limbo long enough. The public deserves an answer either way.

A spokesman for Davenport did not shed any additional light on the status of the investigation.

"Our office has a longstanding practice of not providing status updates on investigations or publicly announcing declinations. Anyone with information about potentially criminal conduct that violates the public trust in connection with these allegations or any other matter are encouraged to contact the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, or make a confidential report to OPIA via our tip line at 1-844-OPIA-TIP (1-844-674-2847)," spokesman Dan Prochilo said.

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