K9 Deputy Makes a Gut-Wrenching Mistake That's Left Him 'Devastated

North Carolina K9 deputy Kevin Williams was on duty last month when he received a call that his sick child needed to picked up from school.

Image source: WITN-TV

After the Duplin County deputy took his child inside his residence, Williams returned to his cruiser to feed Kela, a highly trained Belgium Malinois that tracks down humans and narcotics.

But Williams, who'd been handling Kela for the last four years, followed that with a tragic mistake.

He forgot to remove Kela from the vehicle and the dog was left in the cruiser overnight.

Kela was found dead the next morning, reported WITN-TV in Greenville.

"Williams loved the dog and is devastated about this tragic accident," Sheriff Blake Wallace told the station.

Wallace added that Williams "is an animal lover and would never do anything to intentionally harm an animal, especially his own dog."

Image source: WITN-TV

Nevertheless Williams has been reassigned to courthouse bailiff, the sheriff told WITN-TV, adding that the district attorney's office elected to not bring charges against the deputy due to lack of criminal intent.