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New Castle reduces officer's suspension over dog's death
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NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- This city has halved the suspension of a police officer whose canine died from heat stroke from being left in a hot squad car for nearly four hours.
The New Castle News reports that city council voted to cut Officer James Hoyland's unpaid suspension from 60 to 30 days. Council also agreed that Officer Hoyland doesn't have to pay restitution for the dog, for which the city paid $5,500.
Officer Hoyland filed a grievance and the city reduced the punishment to settle the issue.
Police Chief Thomas Sansone says the 6-year-old Dutch shepherd named Chico died in Officer Hoyland's cruiser on June 4 while temperatures were in the 80s.
A city attorney says Officer Hoyland's grievance over the discipline would have gone to arbitration had the city not approved the settlement Thursday night.
First Published September 23, 2011 3:09 pm
