From North Carolina to Vacaville, silence is complicity

Another gut-wrenching incident involving K-9 abuse in police training has come to light.

As reported by the New York Post, a North Carolina police officer was caught on video swinging his K-9 partner over his shoulder by a leash and then slamming the dog into an SUV.

The officer appeared to strike the dog as he yelled “Stay!” before putting his fellow officer back in the police vehicle. One onlooker was heard saying “We’re good, no witnesses.”

Another person asks the officer if his camera is on.

Fortunately, the confrontation was recorded and sent to the police station by an anonymous source. If not for the recording, the incident would have gone unreported and the rogue K-9 training would have gone on as “business as usual.”

This abusive training should never be “business as usual.” But with this recent case, on top of the incident that occurred here in Vacaville, raises questions about the protocol, guidelines and oversight in K-9 training.

Salisbury Police Chief Jerry Stokes stated to reporters: “When a canine is noncompliant with the handler’s commands, the handler is trained to correct the dog. Canine training tactics and corrective measures can sometimes be alarming out of context.”

Chief Stokes declined to name the officer involved, but stated the handler and dog were separated and the animal would be in good care.

This case is eerily similar to the one that has been addressed in this column for the past month, regarding a K-9 officer in training that was violently struck by a Vacaville officer reprimanding the dog for not following his command.

Although the blatant abuse of the Vacaville K-9 was also captured on video, the leaders of Solano County continue to remain silent, and the elusive response by Vacaville Chief John Carli only continues to raise more questions as to how this occurred in the first place and why disciplinary action has not been taken against the officer involved.

Many still demand answers but none are forthcoming.

To have a spokesperson from the Fire Department respond to questions from the public is disingenuous. Answers must be provided with clarity from the Vacaville Police Department and Chief Carli himself. Such abusive conduct can not be swept under the rug.

Accountability from the bottom to the top must be attained.

If the Mayor of Vacaville says we need to build a community of trust, it must start with the elected city and county leaders and law enforcement.

They must be transparent and honest with the community they serve to achieve such confidence. If not, doubt in their leadership will only deepen.

This said, I will ask the Vacaville Police Department and Police Chief John Carli to finally respond to the questions published in my last column, questions that still remain unanswered.

Was the abusive training captured in the video an isolated incident? Or has this unacceptable beating of a sentient being, trained to assist officers in drug raids and officer protection, been sanctioned for years without public knowledge?

Why is the identity of the rogue officer, the animal hospital and veterinarian that conducted the medical examination of the K-9 not yet released?

Where is this K-9 currently being housed, who is the care provider and will this K-9 be guaranteed a permanent loving home devoid of shouting voices and loud noises?

Please respond to the public you serve to maintain a community of honesty, transparency and trust. Silence is complicity.