Maine Comfort Dog Handler Charged Animal Cruelty After Hot Car Death

Brodie Hinckley, the handler of Maine's first official comfort dog, Baxter, has been charged with a civil violation of animal cruelty following the dog's death in a hot state vehicle in late May 2025. Baxter, a 3-year-old chocolate Labrador trained to support Maine law enforcement dispatchers, was found deceased after the vehicle's engine and air conditioning unexpectedly shut off on a hot day outside the Bangor Regional Communications Center. Hinckley, who is also the state's emergency communications director, has been placed on paid administrative leave and is due to appear in court on November 6, 2025. The Penobscot County District Attorney's Office announced the charges after an independent investigation by the Maine Department of Public Safety and the state's Animal Welfare Program. Officials had confirmed that the vehicle was frequently used to transport Baxter, and a thorough examination was conducted to determine the cause of the vehicle's malfunction. The case remains a focus of public and official scrutiny due to Baxter's role in assisting stressed law enforcement personnel.