Today’s news post came out today in the U.S.News. My initial reactions were anger, disbelief, and disappointment. Then as I continued to read the article there is another underlying problem. Read the article form your own opinions and I will comment more below.
Video of North Carolina K-9 Training Prompts Investigation | U.S. News® | US News
Officials say an investigation of K-9 training is underway after video showed a North Carolina officer lifting a dog by a leash and slamming the animal into the side of a police vehicle.
Source: Video of North Carolina K-9 Training Prompts Investigation | U.S. News® | US News
The most obvious problem is the handling of the K9. Those dogs are highly trained high drive animals. They will put themselves in harms way for the handler. Granted they do need to be corrected I understand that. From what I read it seamed like the correction was excessive and abusive.
In the background, someone is heard saying, “we’re good, no witnesses.”
The video then shows the officer slamming the dog into the SUV before shoving the dog into the car. The officer yells “stay” and then hits the dog.
The video ends with someone asking if a camera is on and another person replying, “no, my power is off.”
Source: Video of North Carolina K-9 Training Prompts Investigation | U.S. News® | US News
I hope I am not the only one that has an issue with the quote above! “we’re good, no witnesses.” then the correction is applied, that is so wrong! Shame on everyone there! I understand that being a police officer is stressful, dangerous, and can be unrewarding at times. A police officer has to be able to trust and rely on their fellow officers. However, being a police officer they have to behave and act at a higher standard than the general public. When they do not live up to that higher standard they are no better than armed thugs!
Now that I have said that let me also say that in my limited interactions with law enforcement I have never had an issue with any of the officers. We (my family) even had friends and family that were in law enforcement ranging from Detectives, Sheriff, and Police, they are all retired now. I have a lot of respect for law enforcement, maybe that is why I found this so troubling. I sincerely hope that this incident is merely a training issue.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Am I making more of this than it needs to be (making a mountain out of mole hill)? Please comment below!
Mark