The Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) has confirmed the recent deaths of two K-9 officers. According to DOC spokesman Jason Miller, K-9 Caesar passed away on July 3, and K-9 Justice died unexpectedly on May 24.
Sources familiar with the incidents tell First State Update that the July incident involving K-9 Caesar resulted from a faulty air conditioning unit in the kennel at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna. FSU has not independently confirmed those details.
We did address the issue with Miller in a follow-up email. In his reply, Miller said after becoming symptomatic of illness, Caesar was transported for medical care and was diagnosed by a Veterinarian with Bloat, a life-threatening condition that can develop quickly and without warning.
Miller did not address our questions to him regarding reports that the air conditioning system in the kennel was faulty or the reports that the air conditioning system is now being updated.
The circumstances surrounding K-9 Justice’s death in May remain under investigation, as officials work to determine the exact cause, according to Miller.
These recent losses come after another incident that led to criminal charges against a corrections officer last year. The Delaware Department of Justice brought the charges after the learned that a four-year-old law enforcement K-9 named Lux died after being left in a vehicle in September 2022.
This is a developing story. Further updates are anticipated in the coming days.