The Maine Department of Public Safety employee charged in the death of the state’s first comfort dog has resigned.

Brodie Hinckley was placed on administrative leave last month after being charged with animal cruelty in the death of the 3-year-old chocolate lab named Baxter.

The dog died in late May after being left in a state vehicle in which the air conditioner shut off when the engine stopped running.

The Penobscot County District Attorney Christopher previously said Baxter was left in the vehicle for more than four hours before being discovered.

Hinckley resigned earlier this month and is scheduled to appear in court on a civil violation for the dog’s death on November 6th.

Baxter was trained and served as a comfort and support dog for Maine’s emergency communications dispatchers.