Early in March 2023, The Gainesville Sun reported that the K-9 unit at the Gainesville Police Department was being disbanded until further notice.
The controversy began with the Terrell Bradley incident. In 2022, Bradley was pulled over by the cops for a traffic violation. When he ran from the police, a police dog mauled Bradley who is black into submission.
Bradley lost his eye in the incident and is seeking a financial settlement from the city.
However, Bradley is not the only black person who has become a victim of Gainesville's police dogs.
A recent article in the Daily Dot reveals that 85% of the victims who suffered violent attacks from police dogs were black.
The Daily Dot had actually obtained records from the Gainesville Police through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The records revealed that from 2016 to 2022, about 85% of bite victims from police dogs were black while only 13% were white. This information shows incredible bias towards one side considering that Gaineville's population is 21% black as reported by the Daily Dot.
Currently, Gainesville's black residents are very worried. They don't want to see their community under attack by violent police dogs.
The community called for the total abolishment of the K-9 unit. As of now, the suspension of Gaineville's K-9 unit is only temporary.
The expert advice for what to do if a police dog attacks you is to try to stay calm and avoid making any sudden movements that could escalate the situation. It's important to remember that police dogs are highly trained animals and are typically under the control of their handlers, who will be trained to intervene if necessary.
If the dog has already bitten you, it's important to try to protect your face, neck, and other vital areas, and to try to remain as still as possible. Do not attempt to fight the dog off, as this could make the situation worse.
If you can, try to verbally communicate with the handler and follow their instructions. They may be able to call off the dog or use other techniques to control it.
Finally, the incident should be reported, and depending on the circumstances, you may be able to take legal action against the police department or the dog's handler.
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