RENO " A campus police officer under investigation for alleged mistreatment of his police dog is no longer employed at the University of Nevada, Reno, officials said Thursday.
UNR spokeswoman Jane Tors said Scott Taylor was notified Wednesday that he is no longer an employee.
Tors said details of Taylor's departure are confidential under personnel laws. But she said his leaving is not tied to accusations that he abused Niko, a German shepherd patrol dog.
Those allegations are under investigation by the state attorney general's office.
Taylor through his attorney has denied abusing the dog.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals notified Police Chief Adam Garcia of the accusations Jan. 29 after it received a report that Taylor was abusing his dog.
Garcia said he took Nike away from Taylor and placed in the care of a veterinarian pending the outcome of the attorney general's investigation.
University officials have said that the initial assessment by the vet found "no overt signs of abuse or trauma."
Garcia placed Taylor on paid leave in February pending an internal investigation after a separate complaint of police abuse was made against him by a citizen.