MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- A Montville Township police dog died last week after an officer left him inside a cruiser.

Sgt. Brett Harrison was suspended for two weeks without pay for violating department policy and procedures, Chief Terry Grice said in a statement Tuesday. Forty vacation hours were also taken from him.

The dog, K-9 Beny, was found dead inside a police cruiser at 3:13 p.m. Sept. 28, police said. The cruiser was parked outside the police department at the time.

"This is a loss that words cannot describe, and it is very difficult for everyone involved," Grice said. "There is no doubt that this loss will have a lasting impact on Sgt. Harrison and our entire department. Sgt. Harrison cared deeply about Beny. He worked with him 40-plus hours a week and Beny lived with Sgt. Harrison and his family when the two were off duty. Sgt. Harrison is overwhelmed with grief, and is taking this loss very hard."

Beny was found lying lifeless in his kennel. He died as a result of injuries consistent with heat stroke, police said.

Harrison admitted at a disciplinary hearing that he failed to leave the windows open and that the cruiser was turned off.

The temperature at the time Harrison arrived at the police department was 69 degrees, and it was 79 degrees when the dog was discovered.

Harrison has never been disciplined since being hired Sept. 11, 2007, Grice said. He previously served 10 years in the Air National Guard, where he was deployed to Qatar during Operation Enduring Freedom.

"While we work through this tragedy, the Montville Police Department remains committed to continuing our K-9 program," Grice said. "We are committed to protecting our community through the use of police K-9s. We are also committed to reviewing training and equipment options that are available to improve the safety conditions for the K-9."