The Calgary Police Service has launched an investigation into a Wednesday evening incident in which a police dog bit a child.
According to police, the off-duty canine unit member and a CPS officer were in the backyard of their home in Aspen Hills at approximately 6:00 p.m. The dog, a Belgian shepherd, escaped from the yard and encountered three children playing.
One of the children, a 12-year-old boy, attempted to run from the dog, prompting the animal to give chase. The dog followed the child into the boy’s home where the boy suffered a bite to his lower leg. The boy’s father was attempting to remove the dog’s mouth from his son’s leg when the dog’s handler arrived.
The dog was removed from the premises and the handler administered first aid to the boy. The child was transported to hospital where he received treatment for puncture wounds and was subsequently released.
Chief Constable Roger Chaffin says he met with the boy's family on Thursday to express the CPS's sincere apologies and to offer support.
"The dog has been transported to the secure kenneling facilities at the CPS canine unit," said Chaffin. "We are now working with the family to offer any assistance we can as they deal with what must have been a terrifying incident."
"I accept the responsibility on behalf of the organization for what occurred."
Police have launched an internal investigation into the dog bite incident. Officials with the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) and Alberta’s Solicitor General’s Office have been notified of the matter.
"This is the first time I've heard of such an incident of this nature in Calgary and I want everyone to know that I'll be doing everything possible to make sure this does not happen again."
Chaffin says the policies and procedures of the canine unit will undergo a full review.
Marco, the offending dog, was a recent graduate of canine unit training and had been a CPS member for approximately a year.
