Hawai‘i Island police roll out new heat monitors, K9 collars after death of Archer

While the Hawai’i State Office of the Attorney General decided not to file criminal charges following the death of a Hawai‘i Island police K9, the department has taken steps to ensure the tragedy never happens again.

Archer, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix from Hungary, died while on duty after being left inside its handler’s vehicle that was parked at the Kona Police Station on Sept. 4.

Immediately after the “preventable tragedy,” interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna said the department did a review of its K9 policies and determined they already were strong.

Instead of changing policies, he said the department elected to improve safety with heat monitors and collars that provide information to a handler’s phone.

The police department forwarded the investigation to Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen for review, which he passed on to the State Department of the Attorney General to avoid a conflict of interest.

“After careful consideration of the evidence associated with this case, examination of the scene, and possible applicable law, our office has declined to prosecute this matter due to insufficient evidence of a crime,” according to a statement from the state Office of the Attorney General. “We have nothing further to add at this time.”

Archer’s handler at the time, Officer Sidra Brown, was not placed on administrative leave, but she is no longer serving as a K9 handler and has been removed from the Vice section.

Mahuna said the administrative investigation into Archer’s death is completed. In the first or second week of January, an administrative review board will convene, allowing the officer an opportunity to share her version of events.

It is unknown how long the Archer was left in the vehicle.

Mahuna said the board will recommend whether to sustain charges and a punishment. He will have the final say.

“When it comes to these K9s, they’re not just dogs,” Mahuna said. “They are beloved in the department. One (death) is too much.”

The department has already rolled out the new technology with around seven heat monitors purchased for a total of $1,500 and installed in November.

Over the next couple of weeks, the department will be getting collars for the five K9 officers. Collars are capable of monitoring the K9’s vitals, temperature and can determine when the animal is in distress.

Mahuna said collars, which cost a combined $15,000, are synced to phones and will send alerts to the K9 handler and the handler’s supervisor.

All Hawai‘i Island police K9s will get a collar.

“The K9s are not to be left in the vehicles unattended,” Mahuna said, adding that these technologies will act as a redundant system to protect the animals.

“It was money all well spent,” Mahuna said.

Hawai‘i Police Department held a private memorial service Sept. 30 at the Police Memorial Wall in Hilo to honor the life and service of K9 officer Archer.