"A Mills police officer faces an animal cruelty charge following the death of a police dog that he allegedly left in a hot patrol car for several hours."
People just do not realise how quickly temperature in a closed car can rise when left in the sun. I would imagine the officer is completely distraught.
Personally I don't think a alarm gizmo is the way to go - it could fail for starters.
Here in South Africa the police dogs ride in the back with windows down and security type fencing across the open windows.
http://trib.com/news/local/crime-and...f462a3974.html