Lebanon police have turned over an animal-cruelty complaint to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office after the case was first reported to Lebanon officers and then linked to a police dog handler. County officials say an outside investigation is now underway and that they are keeping a tight lid on details while the probe is active.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office said Lebanon police asked the agency to conduct an independent investigation because the complaint involves a handler with the Frankfort Police Department’s K-9 unit. According to the post, Lebanon PD referred the matter "due to a potential conflict of interest" and added that "no further details will be released to preserve the integrity of the investigation." As shared by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the agency said it was still receiving preliminary information and would begin reviewing available evidence.
Why County Detectives Were Called In
Lebanon police passed the case to Boone County so that an outside agency could handle the complaint without any appearance of bias. That referral came after the initial report was handled by Lebanon officers and the sheriff’s office was asked to conduct an independent review.
Detective Morganne Carpenter is listed among the sheriff’s public information officers, and the agency’s media page lists the Lebanon office location as 1905 Indianapolis Ave. Those details are posted on the Boone County Sheriff’s Office media page.
What Indiana Law Says About Animal Cruelty
Indiana’s criminal code sets out several offenses involving animals, including specific provisions on cruelty to law-enforcement animals and on torture or mutilation of a vertebrate. Depending on the conduct and whether it causes serious injury or death, penalties can range from misdemeanors to felonies. Statutory language and penalty details are laid out in the Indiana Code.
How To Reach Investigators
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about the complaint to contact its tip line. The office lists a 24-hour number at 765-482-1412 and an email tip address at [email protected].
Office hours and the agency’s Lebanon address remain available while the investigation is active and can be found on the sheriff’s media and contact pages, including the Boone County Sheriff’s Office contact page.
