K-9 who bit Elk Grove police handler could return to service
Were you worried about what would happen to the Elk Grove Village police dog who bit his handler and had to be Tasered?
Despite the attack, the 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, named Sem, could be offered to another law enforcement agency after getting additional training from the Indiana kennel where he came from, officials said.
Sem was sent back to Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana, after biting officer Eric Perkins following a field training vehicle search the evening of Feb. 24. Perkins introduced Sem to the public at a village board meeting in December.
It's ultimately up to management of the kennel company if the dog is offered to another client, whether it be law enforcement, private security or something else, Elk Grove Deputy Police Chief Chuck Walsh said.
"They stand by their animals and have offered to evaluate Sem and are working with us on a replacement dog," Walsh said. "The kennel has done a wonderful job for us in the past matching particular dogs for individual officers."
The management at Vohne Liche Kennels didn't respond to a request for comment.
The dog will be replaced at no charge under a warranty the department has with the kennel, though Elk Grove will pay for additional training once a new K-9 is selected. It's still unknown when that will happen, though the department was already in line to get a second new K-9.
Walsh said an Elk Grove officer who previously served as a K-9 handler starts training for that dog next week. The officer and new dog should be ready to hit the streets by June.
Until then, Elk Grove won't have a K-9 of its own, though the department does have agreements with surrounding agencies to provide K-9s if needed.
Officer Perkins, who was bitten on the arm, was treated at a hospital and is now at home recovering. When he returns to duty, he will be able to interview for the K-9 handler position if he desires, though it also depends on his injury and how it heals, Walsh said.
"He lost a partner and is upset and hopefully will be able to bounce back from this unfortunate incident," Walsh said.