K9 dogs serve a crucial role in police departments across the United States. They can detect illicit and dangerous substances and take part in search-and-rescue operations. Police also use K9s in arresting suspects.
However, that will change in one police department in Michigan. The Saginaw Police Department decided to change its policy for using K9s. They decided that these dogs won’t be used in suspect arrest anymore. It’s not decided yet if the policy is permanent.
In a rally, Saginaw Police Chief Bob Ruth said that he will do something he promised to do many years ago. He will listen to what others have to say.
The rally was held as a part of the Black Lives Matter protests that are currently happening across the country and the world after a police officer killed George Floyd in Minnesota.
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The rally was held in the same location where Milton Hall, a mentally ill man with a knife was shot by the police in 8 years ago. At that time, the county prosecutor ruled that there won’t be any charges against the police who shot the knife-wielding Hall. His death led to some within the department about using force with people who are mentally ill.
The Saginaw Police Department decided to implement this change amid the current protests. They also stated they will use only five K9 units for search and rescue missions, community outreach, and narcotic and bomb searches. This change is to make citizens feel safer.
This new restriction came after another suspect was shot by the Saginaw police in February 2020. The suspect stabbed a K9 dog in the head and the officers had to react. Fortunately, the officers involved in that incident were cleared of any wrongdoing as well.
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