MCSO Announces Death of K-9 “Cooper”

ZANESVILLE, Ohio–The Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that one of its K-9 officers has passed away.

Sheriff Matt Lutz said K-9 “Cooper” died from heat exhaustion on Friday, September 5.

Cooper was a single purpose K-9, trained in drug detection and was assigned to Det. Sgt. Matt Wilhite. Sheriff Lutz said Cooper was in Det. Sgt. Wilhite’s unmarked vehicle outside the Drug Unit’s Office when he died.

An internal investigation is being conducted to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the death.

Sheriff Lutz said it is not uncommon for K-9’s to be left in the confines of their handler’s vehicle, with the vehicle running for lengthy periods of time. He said the marked Sheriff’s K-9 vehicles, used for patrolling the county, are equipped with safety devices and alarms in case temperatures get too high in the vehicles.

However, Sheriff Lutz said because this vehicle was an unmarked detective vehicle there was no safety device on the vehicle.

Cooper was purchased in January of 2022 and was assigned to the drug unit. He began working with Det. Sgt. Wilhite in May of 2022.