VB Police Dog Attack On Child Ruled Accident

Virginia Beach police are addressing an incident in which a police dog bit a young boy. Though the Police Chief Jim Cervera has expressed concern over the incident, he told reporters at a recent press conference that the dog nor the dog handler had done anything wrong. The boy who was attacked was staying at a local Virginia Beach hotel. When police surrounded the hotel in search of a bank robbery suspect, the child was naturally curious. He rounded the corner and found himself face to face with a police dog. The dog, in attack mode, launched at the boy. Police were able to separate the dog from the boy after a few moments. Still, the child suffered puncture wounds and required medical attention. He was transported to the hospital and received six stitches.

Neither the dog nor the dog’s handler have received any kind of consequences for this incident, as police insist that this was all a simple accident. While it is certainly true that animals can lash out unexpectedly, one would hope that police would clear an area before taking their dogs – living, breathing weapons – off their leashes. This boy is lucky to have escaped with such injuries, considering how powerful the jaws of the typical German Shepherd are.

Police dogs provide a wonderful service to the community, but when they become hazardous to our children’s safety, something needs to change. Unlike a police officer, a dog simply cannot differentiate between a running suspect and a running child. This police K-9 should never have attacked a target that had nothing to do with their mission to arrest a suspect. Ultimately, this comes down to human error – training needs to include ways for officers to quickly call off a dog from attacking someone. Without that command, any innocent person who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time could be in serious danger.

Have You Been Attacked or Bitten by A Dog?

A dog bite is a devastating experience, especially when the victim is a small child. Victims of dog attacks face serious physical injuries, permanent scarring, and emotional trauma. So if you were attacked or bitten by someone else’s dog you are probably trying to figure out what to do next. Contact  our experienced Virginia dog bite lawyers to discuss your legal rights.

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