CENTREVILLE, Ill. — Authorities in Centreville are trying to figure out exactly what caused the death of the southwestern Illinois community's police dog, but the police chief says the recent heat wave appears to be to blame.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that Altof took ill last week and was euthanized Sunday at an emergency animal hospital. The German shepherd joined the Centreville Police Department last fall.

Centreville Police Chief Steven Brown says he hasn't yet received an official medical report, but he says "it does appear the heat got to him."