Posted on 07/17/2006 4:12:57 AM PDT by Abathar
BATTLE GROUND, Ind. -- Tippecanoe County Sheriff Smokey Anderson said he was forced to kill a police dog Friday when it turned on an officer during a bank robbery investigation.
The incident happened late Friday afternoon at the Farmers Bank and Trust in Battle Ground in Tippecanoe County.
Fonske, a police K-9 from West Lafayette, was brought in to help in the search for the robber, 6News' Dan Spehler reported. Police don't know why he turned on his owner, Officer Jeff Dunscomb.
"The dog would not release his right wrist, I believe it was. The K-9 handler asked me to shoot the dog, at which time I did," Anderson said. "I don't know why he did that, but it left me with no option."
Fonske was West Lafayette's only police K-9.
Dunscomb was taken to a hospital for injuries caused by the dog. He was treated and released.
Police are still looking for the bank robber. Officials said he was wearing a bandana and wielded a knife. Police asked anyone with information to call the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department.
The last time that particular bank was robbed was in 1931. The county sheriff was killed in that robbery.
Another MSM story where the reporter failed to ask and print a few key questions.
How long had the officer been a K-9 handler, was this his first dog and how long had the dog been out of training?
One more question could have been had the dog always worked with that officer since getting out of training?
I don't think anyone relishes a situation such as this. But, it was a dog, not a HUMAN police officer who was shot. It was a "trained" dog attacking a human. The fact that it had been trained as a police dog means it was trained to respond with violent behavior. It just could not figure out where to direct it.
Of course, chances are the handler had done something to this dog to make him attack the handler... dogs do not normally "bite the hand that feeds it"!
You read about cops going bad all the time, but this is the first time I've seen a story about a police dog going bad.
I think the dog was like "Serpico" and he knew some corruption was going on.
Is your dog, Spot, one dirty rat? He/she sure doesn't look that way!!!!!
(just kidding)
Dog of Peace.
He and his human partner were covering a 'neighborhood meeting' in a black neighborhood which had degenerated into a race riot. The human cop snapped from the stress, and started clubbing a young black woman who was merely a bystander-she'd done nothing wrong.
The K9 watched this for a few seconds, then he stepped forward, grabbed his human partner gently but firmly around the wrist, and pulled him off the terrified woman.
He knew his human was doing something wrong, and he wasn't going to allow it.
That's the hardest part about training dogs as police dogs or guide dogs...They have to be trained to know how to use their own intelligence , and when to defy human commands when they know they're right and their human is wrong. Lots of good guide dogs wash out at that point-and about 25% of prospective police dogs just can't bring themselves to bite a person.
I should have added, "and that 25% also washed out because of this inability".
Something triggered that dog to attack his handler...
and that was not a German Shepherd either, but a Belgian Mallinois.
I am surprised this made the news. Many police dogs attack the wrong person. Could be a misunderstood command, overexcitement, or the dog wanting to bite the "bad guy" and biting the handler instead. This is not unusual, and most often the dog is not euthanized, but sometimes punished harshly. It comes with the territory, I guess.
Modern Schutzhund consists of three phases: tracking, obedience, and protection. A dog must pass all three phases in one trial to be awarded a schutzhund title. Each phase is judged on a 100-point scale. The minimum passing score is 70. At any time the judge may dismiss a dog for showing poor temperament, including fear or aggression. So this means that an animal can pass with a total score of 210, but frankly to be a contender: one desires stongly to finish above 290 minimum. The best animal I've ever seen work finished with 297.
There are three schutzhund titles: Schutzhund 1 (SchH1), Schutzhund 2 (SchH2), and Schutzhund 3 (SchH3). SchH1 is the first title and SchH3 is the most advanced. Additionally, before a dog can compete for a SchH1, he must pass a temperament test called a B or BH (Begleithund Pruefung which translates as "traffic-sure companion dog test"). The B tests basic obedience, sureness around strange people, strange dogs, traffic, and loud noises. A dog that exhibits excessive fear or aggression cannot pass the B and so cannot go on to schutzhund. I was personally involved in the "socialization" training beginning at 8 wks, were I'd take the puppies for a walk to the local shopping center. As I'd pass by a garbage can, I'd bang on it and guage their reaction. People would come up and "Oh, look at the cute little puppy!". Instantly I'd put them into a sit, and then watch how they reacted to strangers approaching. One can try to work with a "spooky" animal, but they never really get over it. Spookiness is discernable as early as 6wks (maybe even earlier). There's fiesty as opposed to aggresive. "Aggressive" is learned, "fiesty" is temprament (just think "flaming red-head").
The obedience phase of Schutzhund is done in a large field, with the dogs working in pairs. One dog is placed in a down position on the side of the field and his handler leaves him while the other dog works in the field. Then the dogs switch places. In the field, there are several heeling exercises, including heeling through a group of people. There are two or three gunshots during the heeling to test the dog's reaction to loud noises. There are one or two recalls, two or three retrieves, and a send out where the dog is directed to run away from the handler straight and fast and then lie down on command. Obedience is judged on the dog's accuracy and attitude. The dog must show enthusiasm. A dog that is uninterested or cowering scores poorly.
A police dog is definitely a completely different animal than a Schutzhund-trained animal, but the very same qualities inherent that of top Schutzhund animals would obviously be coveted by the police force (or military). Just as obvious, police dogs are not to be trifled with.
I really feel bad for the cop, because he and his partner are a unit (just like any other cop/partner). They can read each other like books, and probably can finish each other's sentances. This is of absolute importance when dealing with a handler/dog team. The dog has to be able to work, signal, the handler has to be able to read, and never, never, ever second-guess your animal (EVER); way too many anecdotes to get into (just read Glenn Johnson's writings on the subject of tracking dogs).
IMHO it made news because of the human interest aspect: animal lover tragedy, second time since 1931 bank gets robbed and police officer gets killed as a result.
Yes, Schutzhund training is quite a bit different. The police should be so lucky to have titled dogs like that, especially when it comes to release commands. A great dog should release immediately despite great excitement. Unfortunately, the standard seems to be a bit different for these dogs, but it doesn't really matter. Any dog that is trained to bite as a job has the capacity to do just that, and dogs can make mistakes just like us. It is sad that he had to end his partner's life. Hopefully it won't change his opinion of the job.
My buddie's 3 year old Jack Russell viciously attacked him out of nowhere while he was driving. Turned out the dog had a brain tumor.
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