Two Hialeah Police Dogs Dead After Being Left in SUV

Jimmy and Hector, two police dogs who served with the Hialeah Police Department were found dead in Davie last night after being left in an officer 's SUV. Both the Hialeah and Police Department are investigating the matter, but Officer Nelson Enriquez, a 13-year veteran of the Hialeah force, has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation. 

Jimmy was a 7-year-old Bloodhound who had been donated to the force four years ago. He had been donated to the department by the Jimmy Ryce Center for Victims of Predatory Abduction, and apparently named in the honor of Jimmy Ryce. Back in 1995, Ryce was abducted after being dropped off by a school bus. His body was later found in the Redlands. His father Don started the foundation to provide free bloodhounds to police department to assist with finding missing persons. 

“I’m deeply saddened saddened to learn of the tragic death of two remarkable police dogs from the Hialeah Police Department, 'Jimmy' and 'Hector'," said Don Rice in a statement posted to Facebook. 

Hector was a four-year-old Belgian Malinois. A breed similar in size to the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois are commonly used by police and military forces across the world. The Secret Service uses Malinois to guard the White House. 

Apparently Enriquez had left the two dogs in his marked vehicle in the driveway of his private home. He had arrived home in the early hours yesterday after a midnight shift, and didn't discover the dogs until around 7 p.m. last night. He notified police upon the discovery. His SUV ended up being towed from the scene. 

"The Hialeah Police Department is extremely saddened by this unfortunate occurrence and every effort will be made to determine the cause of this terrible tragedy which claimed the lives of two very beloved members of our Hialeah Police family," said the department in a statement.