New details emerge over mystery deaths of two police dogs at Lucas Heights

An alarm system that would have alerted handlers of issues with the vehicle in which police dogs were left did its job. But nobody was close enough to hear it as two dogs perished.

An alarm system sounded when a NSW Police dog squad vehicle engine stopped working and ceased pumping cool air onto two dogs, but handlers were too far away to hear it.

Police dogs PD Xtra and DD Soldier died after they were found unresponsive in the back of a specialist vehicle on Thursday, following a suspected “technical issue” that led to the vehicle’s cooling system turning off.

While an audible alarm system was initiated to alert handlers about the issue, they were in a development day lecture 300m away and didn’t hear it.

Senior police have confirmed they don’t know how long the alarm had been going off, after returning to check on the dogs two hours after they were last exercised.

The dogs were kept in an airconditioned pod in a specialist-built dog squad vehicle, however, it’s believed technical issues caused the engine to stop working, terminating the cooling system.

Police dogs Xtra, left, and Soldier, right, were found dead on Thursday when their handler checked them. Pictures: Supplied

Last year, a fleet of new Volkswagen dog-squad vehicles were rolled out in the force, which included a temperature alarm and airconditioning and ventilation for the dogs.

“At 10.30am the motor vehicle was operating correctly … It is normal procedure that we can put the dogs in the pod,” Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty said.

“The primary cooling source would be the air conditioner, unfortunately when we returned to the motor vehicle it had ceased, which meant the air conditioner ceased as well.

“Unfortunately there is an alarm that went off but when police got down there it was too late.”

Assistant Commissioner Hegarty said there was “no set time” on how often dogs are checked on while in the pods, as it depended on weather and other factors, but said leaving them unattended for two hours was “not unusual”.

“Those dogs can be in the rear of the car at night for long, long periods of time, so it’s not unusual and nowhere near against any processes,” he said.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said she was confident there was no human error that led to the dogs’ deaths and said the handler was “devastated”.

“I am confident there is no human error and the vehicle has been towed for examination to check for any mechanical technical or engineering type problems,” she said.

“I spoke to the officer this morning, as you can imagine, he is devastated.

“He had the very difficult task of going home yesterday afternoon and informing his wife and his two children about the passing of the dogs because the dogs reside with the handler’s family.”

Commissioner Webb said while investigations are underway, the alarm system would be reviewed, as well as protocols around how often dogs are checked on while in the vehicles.

PD Xtra, a German Shepherd, was accredited as a general-purpose dog in July 2018 and was attached to the Newcastle/Central Coast Dog Unit.

DD Soldier, a German Shepherd, commenced service with the Dog Unit in February 2024 for training and development.

A memorial for the dogs will be held, while their names will be displayed alongside fallen officers at the Wall of Remembrance.

TRAGIC DISCOVERY

An investigation into the dogs’ deaths began on Thursday after the tragic discovery when their handler conducted a routine check and found Xtra and Soldier dead in the vehicle.

They were taken to a specialist veterinary clinic but could not be revived.

Speaking on ABC Radio Sydney Friday morning, Ms Webb expressed the department’s grief, describing the dogs as “two valuable members of our organisation.”

She said the force is “devastated”, and noted that a fault in the specially-built airconditioning pods in the vehicle, which had been in operation for “a few months”, may have played a role.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb. Picture: John Appleyard

Xtra, a german shepherd, was accredited as a general-purpose dog in July 2018 and was attached to the Newcastle/Central Coast Dog Unit.

Soldier, also a german shepherd, started service with the Dog Unit in February 2024 for training and development.

Staff of the Dog Unit will be supported in the wake of the loss. Picture: File

Police Commissioner Karen Webb earlier said Xtra and Soldier were highly trained and played a vital role in assisting officers in serving the community.

“Today is a very sad day for the Dog Unit and the thoughts of the whole police family are with them,” Ms Webb said on Thursday.

“We owe it to PD Xtra and DD Soldier to conduct a thorough investigation.”

Police Minister Yasmin Catley expressed deep shock over the tragedy.

“It’s just an absolutely tragic event, I’m an absolute dog lover and I just cannot believe what’s happened,” Minister Catley said to 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Friday.

“But I know that police are having an investigation and you just have to make sure that it never, ever, happens again.

“It’s beyond words, I can’t believe it.”

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty said the losses would be felt deeply.

“Our focus is on the welfare of all staff involved with ongoing support services made available to them,” he said.

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