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Sheriff Kills Police Dog After It Turned On Owner
The Indy Channel ^ | July 15, 2006 | unknown

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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: anotherdumbdog; doggieping; leo; workingdogs
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Poor guy, he must feel terrible about having to order his own dog killed like that.
1 posted on 07/17/2006 4:12:58 AM PDT by Abathar
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To: Abathar

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?


2 posted on 07/17/2006 4:19:41 AM PDT by PeteB570 (Weapons are not toys to play with, they are tools to be used.)
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To: Abathar; beyond the sea
Just another dead dog... /s

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"!


3 posted on 07/17/2006 4:20:35 AM PDT by pageonetoo (You'll spot their posts soon enough!)
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To: Abathar

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.


4 posted on 07/17/2006 4:22:49 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: pageonetoo
Of course, chances are the handler had done something to this dog to make him attack the handler

My first thought as well.

My dogs will bite me but only if startle them or injure them somehow. However I knew that my dogs were considered "problem dogs" when I got them from the rescue association.
5 posted on 07/17/2006 4:29:15 AM PDT by cripplecreek (I'm trying to think but nothing happens)
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To: Abathar

I think the dog was like "Serpico" and he knew some corruption was going on.


6 posted on 07/17/2006 5:28:32 AM PDT by Krankor (kROGER)
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To: pageonetoo
Spot.................. hey, btw pageonetoo ............... what's with that picture of your sweet dog yesterday in your car with a cheap white sheet protecting your vehicle as he sat in there?

Is your dog, Spot, one dirty rat? He/she sure doesn't look that way!!!!!

(just kidding)

7 posted on 07/17/2006 5:48:15 AM PDT by beyond the sea (The truth exists even when it is ignored.)
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To: Abathar
Islamic dog.

Dog of Peace.

8 posted on 07/17/2006 5:49:19 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Islam is a perversion of faith, a lie against human spirit, an obscenity shouted in the face of G_d)
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To: Lazamataz
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.

Hmmm....Was Fonske trying to tell us something? Does the officer have an alibi?
9 posted on 07/17/2006 6:07:59 AM PDT by Iwo Jima ("Close the border. Then we'll talk.")
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To: Abathar
We once adopted an ex police dog. The owner decided the German Sheppard wasn't aggressive enough and figured that beating him would fix the problem. The dog turned on him and tore him up. We adopted the dog and he never attacked anyone else.
10 posted on 07/17/2006 6:26:20 AM PDT by mbynack (Retired USAF SMSgt)
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To: Krankor
You're being sarcastic, but I read of a police K9 who really did do something like that!

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.

11 posted on 07/17/2006 6:52:13 AM PDT by kaylar
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To: kaylar

I should have added, "and that 25% also washed out because of this inability".


12 posted on 07/17/2006 6:54:50 AM PDT by kaylar
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To: Abathar
Something went wrong................

Something triggered that dog to attack his handler...

and that was not a German Shepherd either, but a Belgian Mallinois.

13 posted on 07/17/2006 3:45:29 PM PDT by raygun (The Science Of Timmy.)
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To: All

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.


14 posted on 07/17/2006 4:09:04 PM PDT by solosmoke
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To: solosmoke
My experiences with Schutzhund (protection dog) training has shown me that getting a dog to bite shouldn't be a problem whatsoever in any animal that is inherently "sound". Typically its "unsound" animals that won't hit the sleeve, or if they do its lackluster, without serious conviction and they won't stay there. Typically they'll wash out for other reasons that are reflective of a wishy-washy temperament. The thing is, most animals should relish hitting the sleeve, they get marked down when they don't let go on command (or if they hit before command).

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).

15 posted on 07/17/2006 5:09:20 PM PDT by raygun (The Science Of Timmy.)
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To: raygun
In that picture: one animal is DQ'd, and two are worthy. The remainder would pass, but are NOT "worthy".
16 posted on 07/17/2006 5:15:17 PM PDT by raygun (The Science Of Timmy.)
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To: solosmoke

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.


17 posted on 07/17/2006 5:20:24 PM PDT by raygun (The Science Of Timmy.)
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To: Abathar
In happier times, the bit officer Jeff Dunscomb and dog Fonske.


18 posted on 07/17/2006 6:38:33 PM PDT by Reeses
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To: raygun

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.


19 posted on 07/18/2006 7:54:46 PM PDT by solosmoke
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To: Abathar

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.


20 posted on 07/18/2006 7:58:08 PM PDT by rennatdm
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