Very distrubing Northport article (North Port: 2015, how much, gated)

[macrodome2]

I read this and it's companion article yesterday. And it looks like most is coming from one officer and on canine. Just because he's won competitions doesn't mean he is competent in the field. Then the police chief calls it a "little nip" that required 30 stitches. I know a few of the people on this forum recommend Northport for people relocating, but I found this very disturbing.

Scarred: Bite stories reveal darker side of police canine team

Scarred: Behind the bites, a permissive policy

[Z8002a]

Well just imagine what the outcomes would have been if the officer pulled & fired his weapon rather than use the dog. Even the tasers are killing people.

I agree the dog/handler deserve some scrutiny but I feel that a K9 equipped police force is a good thing overall.

Calvin

[Nancy in Nokomis]

I suggest you read up on the North Port Police - you will find some interesting articles.

[DragonflyMom]

I was troubled by that article too. I don't blame the dog, though. He is doing what he was taught...obeying the commands of his handler. This seems like a clear case of a handler who needs additional training, or reassignment off the K-9 squad. I will agree that some of the people in the article who were certainly were not responding to the arresting officer's instructions. I've never been arrested, but I'm pretty sure that if I found myself in that situation, I would know that my best bet is to follow instructions and submit to the officer's authority.

Surely ordering a dog to attack someone is an action intended to stop a fleeing criminal, or someone attacking the officer. I don't believe that a person who is already in two sets of handcuffs, no matter how much they are struggling and thrashing, should be subjected to a dog attack. And definitely, a person who has slashed their wrists and is almost dead from loss of blood should be attacked because of their failure to respond to the officer's orders.

This situation needs close scruiny by an impartial investigator. This officer is either poorly trained, on a power trip, or maybe even afraid and trying to use the dog to make sure he himself doesn't get hurt. None of those scenarios make him an effective protector of our community.

That's my opinion.

[beninfl]

Should require officers with K-9's to wear body cameras. Then again, they should require all officers to wear body cameras regardless.

[sware2cod]

North Port needs to get body cameras for all K-9 officers, and also for the dogs.

[Florida or Bust....]

Originally Posted by sware2cod

North Port needs to get body cameras for all K-9 officers, and also for the dogs.

North Port police needs to be investigated by a higher dept. other than the State aholes. What else is it going to take before that happens?

[Sunshine Rules]

Originally Posted by Florida or Bust....

North Port police needs to be investigated by a higher dept. other than the State aholes. What else is it going to take before that happens?

North Port Police: A legacy of leniency | HeraldTribune.com

[Chester Burnett]

What do you do when you want to violate a persons civil rights but you are too darn lazy. Have your dog do it!

[macrodome2]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Rules

North Port Police: A legacy of leniency | HeraldTribune.com

Must really be tough getting people to be cops in North Port if they have to keep all of the ones cited in the article.