After Numerous Excessive Force Lawsuits, Will California Limit Its Use of Canine Units During Police Encounters?

A 64-year-old man entered a construction site in Half Moon Bay to rescue his neighbor’s cat in January 2015. During the effort, the man triggered an alarm that summoned San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies to the site with a K-9 unit. The man was unarmed and cooperated with officers, according to the ACLU of Southern California. The encounter nonetheless ended with a police dog biting him numerous times, causing severe puncture wounds in his right calf that required him to be hospitalized for treatment and left him injured for weeks.

The man ultimately sued San Mateo County after the incident and was awarded $1.1 million by a civil jury. This was among dozens of cases cited in a policy brief released by the ACLU, which said state law enforcement agencies use K-9s to inflict “unnecessary, disproportionate harm on people” who commit minor crimes.

The ACLU has stated that bystanders and “people experiencing a behavioral health crisis” have been attacked and that police use dogs to perpetrate racialized violence.

At present, there are no statewide regulations on how canines can be used across the state. Each department thus has its own policy on the use of canines for policing. Police officials say that dogs used on patrol help protect officers and apprehend suspects. Others can help detect bombs and find drugs. The dogs are trained to bite down on the suspect’s arms or legs and hold the suspect there until their handler arrives or they are verbally told to release the suspect.

Dog handlers are expected to assess a situation second by second to determine if deployment of the K-9 unit is appropriate and for how long. Handlers are supposed to call the dog off if the dog is running toward the suspect and the suspect surrenders, even if the dog is about to bite.

Out of 37 California police agencies analyzed by the ACLU, only the San Jose PD limited the use of K-9 units to situations “involving a threat of serious injury to the officer or someone else,” according to the report. Most of the policies the ACLU reviewed were said to be “extremely broad” and “vague.”

Vallejo settles police dog bite lawsuit for $40,000 

The City of Vallejo recently settled a police dog bite attack lawsuit for $40,000. The claim was brought by a driver who said he was attacked by a Vallejo police dog following a police pursuit last year. The plaintiff alleged that police used excessive force and violated his civil rights when they allowed a police dog to bite down on his arm for 23 seconds through the window of his car. The lawsuit was settled swiftly one month later.

Talk to an Oakland, CA Dog Bite Attorney Today 

If you are bitten by a dog, you can file a lawsuit against the owner to recover damages related to your medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life. Call the Oakland personal injury lawyers at Venardi Zurada today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your case and injuries right away.

Sources:

vallejosun.com/vallejo-settles-lawsuit-over-police-dog-bite-for-40k/

latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-10/aclu-report-california-police-k9-dogs-maulings