K9 Officer Dies Inside Department Of Correction Vehicle In Smyrna

The Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) is investigating the death of one of its K-9 officers.

Officials with the DOC have confirmed that K9 Lux, assigned to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna died on Sunday. Officials, saddened to announce the on-duty passing of K9 Lux, said that K(LUX, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois, was found deceased by his handler inside of a marked DOC K9 vehicle on September 18, 2022.

The vehicle was parked, secured, and idling on the grounds of the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center officials said. Multiple sources familiar with the incident tell FSU that they believe that a system that keeps the vehicle’s air conditioning system on may have failed. DOC did not confirm those detail.

“This tragic incident is currently under investigation by the Delaware Department of Correction and the Delaware Office of Animal Welfare to determine the circumstances surrounding K9 Lux’s death.” said DOC Deputy Bureau Chief of Prisons Paul Shavack.

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