Police dog suspended after profiling several cats - The Beaverton

Police dog suspended after profiling several cats

TORONTO – A member of Toronto’s Police services unit has been given a two week suspension with kibbles after being accused of species-profiling several neighbourhood cats.

When Internal affairs reviewed K9 Officer Sparky’s reports, they found that his file was filled almost exclusively with cats. Aside from the occasional possession of catnip, none of the cats singled out by Sparky had any previous criminal record. Following the officer’s suspension, a series of squirrels, sparrows and mailmen have also come forward to launch complaints.

While acknowledging his partner’s prejudice, Handler Pete Ericson stands behind him. “Sparky is not a bad police dog,” Ericson said. “He’s just used to the way things used to be in the old K9 patrol. You can’t teach an old dog new protocols.”

Nevertheless, civil rights activist Agnes McInfield has started a petition requesting Sparky be removed from the police force. “This dog has blatantly abused his power, and all he gets is a slap on the nose? Sparky should be given the whole rolled up newspaper, and be made to hand in his leash,” said Mcinfield.

This is perhaps the biggest controversy for Canadian police animals since 1991, when a Regina police horse accepted a bribe of sugar cubes in return for looking the other way on a petty theft.