Police officer caught on video punching his K-9 and police captain says it is ok – Voice For Us

- California, USA -

The incident happened on Monday, December 28, in the back parking lot of Vacaville Fire Station 73 during a routine training exercise, according to Vacaville Police.

Mr. Robert Palomino was on his way to work when he heard a dog crying in pain.

He said the dog sounded like someone was running over him.

Robert then witnessed the officer striking the defenseless dog but was too afraid to confront him, so he pulled out his cell phone and started recording the cruel act.

According to Robert, before he started filming, the officer had already punched the dog several times.

The video was posted on social media.

The disturbing clip shows the poor dog pinned to the ground while the officer punches him in his face.

It also shows the officer looking around a few times as if he wants to make sure no one is watching.

Robert wrote on Facebook: “I heard a dog crying, when I looked, the officer was punching the dog over and over and got shocked about it. I’m sure he saw me, he stopped beating the dog when he saw me and went behind those trailers in the video.”

Vacaville Police are conducting an internal investigation but Captain Matt Lydon (pictured below), is somehow justifying his officer saying that the brief clip does not show what led up to the act.

The department did not disclose the identity of the officer involved in this case (I am not surprised).

Captain Lydon explained to FOX 40 that the K-9 was doing an exercise to find narcotics and was rewarded with a toy. When his handler took the toy away from him, “that angered the dog.”

Captain Lydon claimed: “And then the dog, in turn, lunged at the officer and attempted to bite the officer.”

The officer was not bitten by the K-9 but Lydon said the mere attempt to bite had to be addressed by the officer by establishing his dominance.

Captain Lydon then added: “And why it’s important is the handler has to have complete control over that K-9 to ensure public safety.”

On Tuesday, December 29, the Vacaville Police Department posted an update on their Facebook page and part of it reads:

“We wanted to update our community with the following:

*The canine involved in this incident has been removed from the care of his handler

*The canine has been examined at a Veterinarian office and shows no sign of distress or injury

*The canine has been placed in the care of a third party outside of the Vacaville Police Department pending a thorough and complete investigation into the incident.

*A third party trainer will be consulted during the evaluation process of the incident.”

The department, however, did not post a copy of the medical report, nor the name of veterinarian who examined the K-9.

FOX 40 reports that the officer has been on the force for about seven years and is new to the K-9 program.

He and the K-9 have been training together for three or four months and are not currently on patrol.

Captain Lydon I have some questions for you.

Is that how the department trains their human officers?

Do you pin them down to the ground and punch them in the face?

What makes you think it’s ok to do it to a K-9?

Some people out there are so full of it that they associate the uniform they wear to power…grow up!

Thank you, Robert for filming the act and posting the video online!

Story on Voice For Us Facebook page