Former Maine official found not responsible for death of state comfort dog

Judge Rules Former State Official Not Guilty of Animal Cruelty in Comfort Dog’s Death

The Penobscot County Judicial Center in Bangor heard a bench trial this week that ended with a verdict for Brodie Hinckley, the former director of the Maine Bureau of Emergency Communications. In a civil case that had been filed in September 2025, Hinckley was cleared of responsibility for the death of Baxter, Maine’s first official comfort dog.

Baxter, a three‑year‑old chocolate Labrador retriever, had been trained by the New Hampshire nonprofit Hero Pups and introduced to the state’s emergency communications centers in September 2022. His job was to sit with dispatchers and provide a calming presence during the high‑stress work of 911 call handling.

On May 28, 2025, Hinckley drove to the Maine Department of Public Safety’s dispatch center on Maine Avenue in Bangor. After an initial period inside the center, he let Baxter out to relieve himself. When some dispatchers complained that the dog had “smelled gassy,” Hinckley placed Baxter in a built‑in crate in a 2023 Ford Police Interceptor and started the engine with the air conditioning on. He left the vehicle with the intention of returning after a short break.

At around 2 p.m., he stepped out to the parking lot to check on the vehicle. The car’s battery had failed, the engine had shut off, and the air conditioning was no longer running. Hinckley unlocked the car, tried to restart it, and found Baxter lying lifeless in the back seat. He described the scene as “the worst feeling I’ve ever had.”

The incident was reported to the Maine Department of Public Safety, and Hinckley was charged in September 2025 with an animal cruelty offense. The prosecution argued that leaving a dog in a hot vehicle for more than four hours amounted to cruelty. Hinckley resigned from his position more than a month after the charge was filed.

During the trial, the court heard testimony from several witnesses: the founder of Hero Pups, who had matched Baxter with Hinckley and provided documentation recommending a crate and a temperature sensor; two mechanics who had inspected the vehicle after the incident; and William Muggle, a former state animal welfare investigator who explained how quickly a dog can overheat in a vehicle, especially on a dark, unshaded interior. Muggle noted that the National Weather Service had recorded temperatures in Bangor of up to 82 °F that afternoon. He also explained that the vehicle’s interior could become hotter than the outside air by 10–15 °F in minutes, a phenomenon often referred to as the greenhouse effect.

The mechanics, who had examined the vehicle after the incident, stated that they could not determine why the battery had died and could not replicate the problem. They reported no signs of mechanical failure that would have caused the engine to shut down.

Hinckley’s defense lawyer, Walt McKee, emphasized that Hinckley had left Baxter in the car on a few previous occasions without incident, including during the response to the Lewiston mass shooting and at a conference in South Portland. “It was a total accident,” McKee said after the judge’s ruling.

Judge Bruce Mallonee, who presided over the case, found that Hinckley was not responsible for the civil offense of animal cruelty. He explained that the charge requires intent to harm the animal. “We have no idea why the car failed,” Mallonee said. “Hinckley could only be found responsible if he had known the car’s system was going to fail.”

Both sides agreed on the factual narrative: Baxter was left in a hot car and died of heat stroke, but they differed on whether the circumstances constituted a criminal charge. Prosecutor Chelsea Lynds said the case would serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hot vehicles and the importance of monitoring temperatures when transporting comfort dogs. She noted that in New Hampshire, a state where Hero Pups is based, a remote temperature sensor is now required for vehicles carrying comfort dogs.

The judge also expressed empathy for Hinckley, who had received death threats and harassing messages on social media after Baxter’s death. “You didn’t deserve that,” Mallonee said, acknowledging the personal toll of the incident.

The case is now closed. Hinckley’s civil liability for the dog’s death has been dismissed, and the state’s animal welfare program has cited the incident as a reminder of the risks associated with leaving pets in vehicles, particularly in Maine’s summer climate.

Key facts

• Who: Brodie Hinckley, former Maine Bureau of Emergency Communications director; Baxter, a chocolate Labrador retriever trained by Hero Pups.
• What: Trial on a civil animal cruelty charge; verdict of not responsible.
• When: Incident occurred May 28, 2025; trial held in September 2025.
• Where: Maine Department of Public Safety dispatch center, Bangor; trial at Penobscot County Judicial Center.
• Why: Baxter died of heat stroke after being left in a hot car; prosecution argued for cruelty, defense argued lack of intent.
• Quotes:
  • “He was my best friend,” Hinckley said, “I can’t even explain it. It’s the worst feeling I’ve ever had.”
  • Judge Mallonee: “We have no idea why the car failed.”
  • Prosecutor Lynds: “I’m sure this will be a cautionary tale.”
  • Judge Mallonee: “You didn’t deserve that.”