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A North Carolina cop caught on video abusing his K-9 partner \u2013 slamming the police dog into an SUV \u2013 has resigned, department officials said.<\/p>\n
The resignation of Salisbury Police Officer James Hampton came weeks after disturbing footage was sent anonymously to a local news station showing him lifting up the leashed K-9, Zuul, around his shoulder and slamming the animal into the side of the vehicle.<\/p>\n
The shocking incident led to an investigation by a third-party agency for the \u201cinappropriate discipline\u201d doled out to the K-9 during a training session, Salisbury police said Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police department\u2019s review determined that Officer Hampton had acted in a manner entirely inconsistent with his K-9 training and had violated police department policy,\u201d police said in a statement. \u201cAs a result, he was recommended for termination.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hampton then resigned, effective immediately, following a due process hearing and prior to any formal disciplinary action, department officials said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police department did not incentivize or otherwise request Officer Hampton\u2019s resignation, which he tendered as a matter of right,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n
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Police noted the immediate calls for Hampton\u2019s firing, but said he was afforded due process just like any other city employee.<\/p>\n
A Salisbury city spokesperson told NBC News Hampton had joined the department in 2013 and became a K-9 officer two years later.<\/p>\n
Hampton could not be reached for comment Wednesday, NBC News reported.<\/p>\n
Officials from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, meanwhile, said Hampton\u2019s resignation was a \u201cstep in the right direction,\u201d but called for the former officer to be criminally charged.<\/p>\n
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“We want to know when cruelty charges will finally be filed and what the Salisbury Police Department is doing to implement modern, humane training methods so that no other K-9s suffer as Zuul did,\u201d PETA\u2019s senior vice president, Daphna Nachminovitch, said in a statement. \u201cPETA looks forward to progress and transparency.\u201d<\/p>\n