The Incident That Put A Deputy Handling of K-9 Officer Under The Spotlight
A video of a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy shoving his K-9 partner to the ground after it appeared to bite him during a traffic stop has sparked outrage and an internal investigation.
The incident, which took place in Moreno Valley, was captured on video and has raised concerns within the community.
Viral Video Of The Deputy Handling His K-9
The video, posted on social media on Thursday, Nov. 30, shows the deputy handling the K-9 officer during a traffic stop.
As the deputy approached the suspect, the dog seemed excited or agitated and tried to bite the deputy’s right hand. The deputy reacts by lifting the dog up and slamming it to the pavement, then yelling, “No.” He then walks back to his patrol car with the dog and appears to slap it on the nose.
The suspect was later released without charges. That was because he was carrying a Taser, not a gun, and had not committed any crime. (More on the taser incident in Attorney Ugo Lord‘s video above)
Public Concerns
The incident has led to several complaints and an ongoing investigation by the Professional Standards Bureau of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
“We also understand why this video may be upsetting to some members of our community,” the department said in a statement. “Our Professional Standards Bureau has received several complaints and are investigating this matter.”
The deputy’s name is Shane Day, who has a history of working with K-9s, including a previous dog named Rudy. He is a veteran K-9 handler who had previously won a competition with his former dog, Rudy. Day was reportedly assigned a new dog after Rudy’s death in April.
The video has elicited a range of reactions on social media, with some criticizing the handling of the K-9 officer and others coming to the defense of Deputy Day.
Michael Reaver, president and co-owner of a company that provides K9s and training to law enforcement agencies, stated that Deputy Day acted appropriately.
“The way Shane handled it was quick and to the point. It was a correction,” as Reaver said.
The dog’s behavior may have been a result of excitement and the recognition of a potential work scenario.
“A dog wants a strong leader,” Reaver stated. “It didn’t exceed the limit for force.”
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is committed to thoroughly investigating the incident and addressing the concerns raised by the community.
Conclusion
As questions and concerns mount over the treatment of police dogs and the behavior of officers during their duties, the investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office remains ongoing.
People are curious about how officers care for these dogs and handle tense situations. The outcome of this inquiry will likely have an impact on how law enforcement manages and treats their K-9 partners in the future.
As a former military k9 handler, this is absolutely inappropriate. They either don’t have a good bond, or the handler is too reactive. 100% not appropriate. You can tell by the way he brings the dog out on his hind legs, not letting him walk- which is exactly why the dog snapped. Not how you handle a k9- not how you control the situation.
If this is the way handlers “correct” their K9s, then there needs to be a different method put in place. This certainly looked like animal abuse! Why would a K9 try to bite his handler? Apparently there’s more to this than meets the eye.
[…] the aftermath of the incident, legal proceedings were set in motion. Interlandi was arrested and charged with unlawful conduct […]
[…] move to increase penalties for killing police animals is not unique to Kansas. The spirit of the bill has been sweeping across the nation. This proves […]