San Diego officer pleads no contest in police dog’s death
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A veteran San Diego police officer pleaded no contest today to a misdemeanor charge of animal neglect.
Officer Paul Hubka, a 22-year veteran of the department, was ordered to pay a $411 fine and $4,941 in restitution for the death of his police dog.
The dog, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, died of heat stroke after being left in the back of Hubka’s police car on a day when temperatures exceeded 100 degrees. Hubka was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and will serve three years’ probation.
It’s the latest in a two-month long court battle in the case.
As criminal charges were pending, San Diego City Atty. Michael Aguirre refused to approve a $50,000 payment to Hubka, as part of Hubka’s share in a settlement of a lawsuit filed by three officers alleging that they deserve extra pay for their duties as canine officers.
Aguirre then filed a civil complaint in Superior Court seeking damages from Officer Paul Hubka, whose police dog died of heat stroke while left in Hubka’s squad car.Aguirre wants Hubka to pay the cost of acquiring and training a replacement for his dog. He said the cost exceeds $25,000.
After the death of the dog, named Forrest, Hubka was transferred out of the canine patrol, where he had served most of his career.
He said that leaving the dog in the back of his car was a mistake. He had returned home after an overnight shift and had left the dog in the car.
With 45 dogs for patrol and weapons and drug duties, the San Diego Police Department boasts the largest K-9 unit of any department in the country.
-- Tony Perry