By admin 
DUNKLIN COUNTY, Mo. (KFVS/Gray News) — A former Missouri police officer has been sentenced to 15 days in jail and two years of probation in an animal abuse case involving two K-9s.
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On Aug. 24, Derrick A. Durall pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor animal abuse.
He initially was sentenced to one year in the Dunklin County Jail. However, the judge suspended the execution of the sentence, giving Durall supervised probation for two years. He will also serve 15 days in the Dunklin County Jail.
Durall was also ordered to pay the city of Dexter $8,900 as restitution for his negligence, which caused the death of the K-9 Apollo.
The animal abuse and neglect happened in Stoddard County between September 2023 and February 2024.
Durall failed to provide adequate care to K-9 Apollo and retired K-9 Knox by not giving them food and water, resulting in Apollo’s death and serious injury to Knox.
Court documents state Durall, as the Dexter Police Department’s K-9 handler, was responsible for the department’s active K-9, Apollo, and its retired K-9, Knox, both of which were kept in separate kennels at Durall’s home.
Apollo was found dead in his kennel on Feb. 18, 2024.
Investigators said during a veterinary exam after his death, Apollo weighed 41.6 pounds. They said he had lost about 25 pounds since his last visit in September 2023. The vet also described Apollo as having “decreased muscle mass and sunken eyes” as a result of malnutrition and dehydration.
According to court documents, tests also found Apollo had pneumonia, which the vet said was common in dogs that are malnourished. The vet said Apollo’s condition was not caused by pneumonia, “but was likely the final event that led to Apollo’s death.”
Retired K-9 Knox was also evaluated by a veterinarian. It was determined that he had severe heartworms and severely worn teeth. The veterinarian said he had lost about 10 pounds since his last visit and was “generally unkept.”
The Dexter Board of Aldermen voted to fire him from the Dexter Police Department on April 1, 2024. Durall became a K-9 handler for the department in December 2020.
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